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The concept of a residual Daniels function (RDF) is introduced. Together with the concept of Daniels sequence, the RDF is used for estimating the residual (after some preliminary fatigue loading) static strength of a unidirectional fibrous composite (UFC) and its S–N curve on the bases of test data. Usually, the residual strength is analyzed on the basis of a known S–N curve. In our work, an inverse approach is used: the S–N curve is derived from an analysis of the residual strength. This approach gives a good qualitive description of the process of decreasing residual strength and explanes the existence of the fatigue limit. The estimates of parameters of the corresponding regression model can be interpreted as estimates of parameters of the local strength of components of the UFC. In order to approach the quantitative experimental estimates of the fatigue life, some ideas based on the mathematics of the semiMarkovian process are employed. Satisfactory results in processing experimental data on the fatigue life and residual strength of glass/epoxy laminates are obtained.

As a development of the model where only one weak microvolume (WMV) and only a pulsating cyclic loading are considered, in the current version of the model, we take into account the presence of several weak sites where fatigue damage can accumulate and a loading with an arbitrary (but positive) stress ratio. The Poisson process of initiation of WMVs is considered, whose rate depends on the size of a specimen. The cumulative distribution function (cdf) of the fatigue life of every individual WMV is calculated using the Markov model of fatigue. For the case where this function is approximated by a lognormal distribution, a formula for calculating the cdf of fatigue life of the specimen (modeled as a chain of WMVs) is obtained. Only a pulsating cyclic loading was considered in the previous version of the model. Now, using the modified energy method, a loading cycle with an arbitrary stress ratio is “transformed” into an equivalent cycle with some other stress ratio. In such a way, the entire probabilistic fatigue diagram for any stress ratio with a positive cycle stress can be obtained. Numerical examples are presented.

An analysis of the tensile strength of some fiber or fiber bundle specimens is presented. The specimens are modeled as chains of links consisting of longitudinal elements (LEs) with different cumulative distribution functions of strength, corresponding to the presence and absence of defects. Each link is considered as a system of parallel LEs a part of which can have defects. In the simplest case, the strength of defective elements is assumed equal to zero. The strength of a link is determined by the maximum average stress the link can sustain under a growing load. To calculate the stress, the randomized Daniels model or the theory of Markov chains is used. The strength of specimens is determined by the minimum strength of links. The concept of MinMaxDM family of distribution functions is introduced. A numerical example of processing experimental results for a monolayer of carbon bundles is presented.

The possibility of using a unified mathematical model, based on the theory of Markov chains, to describe the distribution of the conditional fatigue limit at a fixed number of loading cycles and the residual strength of a specimen after cyclic loading is demonstrated. Numerical examples are presented.