Papers by Keyword: Critical Plane

Abstract: The critical plane-based multiaxial criterion originally proposed by the authors for plain fatigue is here applied to estimate the crack initiation life of fretting high-cycle fatigued structural components. Although fretting fatigue can be regarded as a case of multiaxial fatigue, the common multiaxial fatigue criteria have to be modified to account for the severe stress gradients in the contact zone. Therefore, the above criterion is used in conjunction with the Taylor’s point method to numerically estimate the fatigue life of Ti-6Al-4V and Al-4Cu specimens under cylindrical contacts.

Abstract: Fatigue tests have been carried out to investigate the effects of mean-stress and phase-difference on the tension-torsion fatigue failure of 2A12-T4 aluminum alloy. The results show that for fully reversed tension-torsion loading, the fatigue life increases with the increase of phase angle, but the fatigue life decreases with the increase of phase angle, when mean-stress exists, both for shear mean-stress and normal mean-stress. Fracture appearance shows that the crack initiation is on the direction of maximum shear stress amplitude plane. Critical plane criteria based on the linear combination of the maximum shear stress amplitude and maximum normal stress are studied and further discussion on the drawbacks of this kind of criteria are performed.

Abstract: The work presents non-local line method by which the equivalent fatigue zones were designated. These zones are one-dimensional efficient lengths in which operating stress variables cause initiation of fatigue cracks. The algorithm of the presented method considers the issues of multi-axial stress state, critical plane and weighting function. Calculations of stresses in the test element were performed by using the FEM assuming cyclic material properties, which are described with the model for multi-linear hardening. The empirical lifetime of elements with a notch was assumed to define length of the crack amounting to 0.1 mm. As the result of calculations, the dependence of effective length on nominal stress and radius of the notch was determined.

Abstract: A series of tests for low cycle fatigue were conducted on the tubular specimens for 304 stainless steel under variable amplitude and irregular axial-torsional loading. Rainflow cycle counting and linear damage rule are used to calculate fatigue damage and four approaches, e.g. SWT(Smith-Watson-Topper), KBM(Kandil-Brown-Miller), FS(Fatemi-Socie), and LKN(Lee-Kim-Nam) approach are employed to predict the fatigue life. The maximum shear strain plane, the maximum normal strain plane, and the maximum damage plane are considered as the critical plane, respectively. The effects of the choice of the critical plane on previous approaches are discussed. It is shown that comparing with the maximum shear/normal strain approach, the predictions are improved by using the maximum damage plane approach, part nonproportional paths for SWT, AV and part nonproportional paths for KBM, TV paths for FS. But for LKN, the prediction results are nonconservative for some paths than that of the maximum shear/normal strain approach.

Abstract: A special situation arises when multiaxial fatigue loadings are present, given not only the time-dependency of extreme principal stress values, but also the fact that principal plane positions change during one load cycle (non-proportional loading). Thus, the analysis of principal stress and principal direction variation becomes a very important step, necessary to be carried out before starting any multiaxial fatigue testing. Based on the above, the authors present a generalized method for computing principal stresses and determining principal plane positions, applicable for cyclic tension-torsion loadings with zero mean stresses but with different phase shifts and amplitude ratios. Based on original experimental data and data collected from the literature, the authors point out in the final part of the paper that the maximum principal shear stress can be considered as the main parameter for plotting Wöhler curves.

Abstract: The mechanical behaviour of structural components subjected to multiaxial fatigue loading is very important in modern design. Several approaches have been introduced in recent decades to analyse this problem. The so-called critical plane approach, based on the stresses acting on the plane where the crack nucleation is expected to occur, is widely used. This criterion can give us a fatigue damage measurement, which can be used to evaluate fatigue life. On the other hand, fatigue life under general multiaxial stress histories can also be assessed by applying the damage accumulation method. In such a method, a scalar damage parameter is quantified through the damage increments which develop during the fatigue process up to the critical damage value corresponding to the final failure of the structures. The damage increment approach to fatigue has recently been discussed and connected to the classical crack propagation approach. In the present paper, the interpretation of the critical plane approach based on the continuum damage mechanics concepts is examined. In particular, the physical meaning of the critical plane approach is shown, that is, such an approach can be interpreted as a damage method which takes into account the scalar damage parameter evaluated along preferential directions. Finally, the fatigue behaviour of a metallic material under multiaxial cyclic load histories is analysed through the two above approaches.

Abstract: The strain change characteristics of multiaxial fatigue are analyzed under the condition of the combined tension and torsion loading for thin-tube specimen. Based on the principle of multiaxial critical plane approach, a multiaxial fatigue damage parameter is established, which takes account of the effect of not only the maximum shear strain amplitude and normal strain amplitude on the critical plane but also the parameter of non-proportionality. The non-proportionality is the function of loading parameters which is closely contact with the strain change characteristics of multiaxial fatigue and it can indicate the whole material damage. The experiments under the tension-torsion proportional and non-proportional loading were conducted to verify the multiaxial fatigue life model proposed in this paper. The life prediction has a good correlation with the experimental results.

Abstract: Engineering components and structures in service are generally subjected to the multiaxial complex loads. The approach of critical plane has been widely accepted by most researchers as the best method in the multiaxial fatigue research field. It can be used well in the constant multiaxial fatigue loads, but not in the complex loads. Basis on analyzing characteristics of shear strain on material planes, the concept of weight-averaged maximum shear strain plane is proposed. A procedure is presented to determine the critical plane under multiaxial random loading. The angle values of the planes that experience peak values of maximum shear strains are averaged by employing the weight function, which is assumed to take into account the main factors of influencing the fatigue behavior, e.g. fatigue damage. The proposed algorithm is applied to the multiaxial in- and out-of-phase experiments to assess the correlation between the weight-averaged maximum shear strain direction and the position of the experimental fatigue crack initiation plane.

Abstract: First, several widely used models of the multiaxial low-cycle fatigue life prediction based on the critical plane approach were presented in this paper, and the predicted results of these models for a medium carbon steel under the condition of multiaxial low-cycle fatigue loading were compared. Second, the stochastic expressions and probability density function curves of the fatigue performance parameters were obtained by probabilistic analysis of the medium carbon steel fatigue data. Finally, the probabilistic model of the multiaxial fatigue life prediction was simulated by Monte Carlo Method, which should provide a basis for the reliability analysis of engineering components subjected to the multiaxial complex loads.

Abstract: A series of low-cycle fatigue experiments of axial-torsional loading of variable amplitudes were performed on the tubular specimens of 304 stainless steel. Two models of multiaxial low-cycle fatigue life, KBM and FS method, are evaluated based on the fatigue life data of 304 stainless steel. Rainflow cycle counting and the Liner Damage Rule are used to calculate fatigue damage. It was shown that the part prediction results are nonconservative for the two models. The life prediction is done again based on the weight function critical plane method for the two models. The prediction results are better by using the weight function critical plane method than the previous results for KBM model. But the prediction results are improved little for FS model in spite of the weight function critical plane method being used.