Abstract
When considering mechanical components that are subjected to complex loading conditions, it is difficult to achieve accurate predictions of low-cycle fatigue life. For multiaxial and non-proportional loads, the principal strain directions vary in three-dimensional space with time. The commonly accepted methods to determine fatigue life under such loading conditions are based on a critical plane approach, and they rely heavily on accurate strain range estimates. However, there is no singly accepted method to determine the critical plane, equivalent strain magnitude, or equivalent strain direction. Furthermore, current suggestions are computationally intensive and challenging to implement. This paper offers a novel and concise method to accurately determine equivalent strain range and equivalent strain direction under multiaxial, non-proportional loading in three-dimensional space. A practical approach is provided for implementing the method, and an example of an application using a finite element model of a first stage turbine blade is discussed. To demonstrate the approach, ANSYS Mechanical was used to simulate a turbine blade under transient loading conditions and to determine the resulting strains. Equivalent strain range results were applied to a Coffin-Manson relation to determine the low-cycle fatigue life of every node within the finite element model of the first stage turbine blade. The post-processing of the strain predictions, which yielded the equivalent strain range and equivalent strain direction, is discussed in detail.
Fatigue life assessment of a low pressure steam turbine blade during transient resonant conditions using a probabilistic approach