A Nonlinear Fatigue Damage Model Based on Equivalent Transformation of Stress

It is rather difficult for engineers to apply many of the fatigue damage models for requiring a knee point, material-dependent coefficient, or extensive testing, and some of them are only validated by a fatigue test of two-stage loading rather than higher-stage loading. In this paper, we propose a new model of fatigue cumulative damage in variable amplitude loading, which just requires the information of the S-N curve determined from the fatigue experiment. Specifically, the proposed model defines a stress equivalent transformation way to translate the damage of one stress to another stress through simple calculation. Experimental data of fatigue including two-, three-, and four-block loading verify the superiority of the proposed model by comparing it with the Miner model and Manson model. The results show that the proposed model can be generalized to any type of loading and presents a better prediction. Therefore, the advantage of the proposed model can be easily used by an engineer.

Investigation of Changes in Fatigue Damage Caused by Mean Load under Block Loading Conditions

The literature in the area of material fatigue indicates that the fatigue properties may change with the number of cycles. Researchers recommend taking this into account in fatigue life calculation algorithms. The results of simulation research presented in this paper relate to an algorithm for estimating the fatigue life of specimens subjected to block loading with a nonzero mean value. The problem of block loads using a novel calculation model is presented in this paper. The model takes into account the change in stress–strain curve parameters caused by mean strain. Simulation tests were performed for generated triangular waveforms of strains, where load blocks with changed mean strain values were applied. During the analysis, the degree of fatigue damage was compared. The results of calculations obtained for standard values of stress–strain parameters (for symmetric loads) and those determined, taking into account changes in the curve parameters, are compared and presented in this paper. It is shown that by neglecting the effect of the mean strain value on the K′ and n′ parameters and by considering only the parameters of the cyclic deformation curve for εm = 0 (symmetric loads), the ratio of the total degree of fatigue damage varies from 10% for εa = 0.2% to 3.5% for εa = 0.6%. The largest differences in the calculation for ratios of the partial degrees of fatigue damage were observed in relation to the reference case for the sequence of block n3, where εm = 0.4%. The simulation results show that higher mean strains change the properties of the material, and in such cases, it is necessary to take into account the influence of the mean value on the material response under block loads.

Application of variable equivalent amplitude for determination of fatigue life of elements subjected to block loading

This paper contains a proposition of a new method of determining the fatigue life of elements subjected to non-stationary loads. The model was based on the determination of the time-variable equivalent weighted amplitude. This amplitude is derived on a continuous basis as the arithmetic mean of nth root of the amplitudes that occur up to a given time. The analysis of the proposed model was carried out on the basis of selected literature insights based on specimens made of P91 and P92 steels. The experimental tests were performed under block loading with a zero mean value in the conditions of tension-compression with a small number of cycles.