A practical model for efficient anti-fatigue design and selection of metallic materials: I. Model building and fatigue strength prediction

Abstract

The high cost and low efficiency of fatigue tests are bottleneck problem for the anti-fatigue design of metallic materials. For this problem, a theoretical fatigue model is proposed in this study, the possible applications have also been discussed. Specific results would be introduced in two serial papers, in which the first paper focuses on the model building and the applications on fatigue strength prediction; the second paper put emphasis on the influencing factors of the model parameters and the applications on fatigue strength improvement. In this first paper, a theoretical model is proposed considering both the strength and plastic restrictions of fatigue strength. As the model builds up a brief relationship among yield strength (Y), tensile strength (T) and fatigue strength (F), it is named as the Y-T-F model. Through the verification with fatigue strength data covering various kinds of metallic materials and loading conditions, this Y-T-F model exhibits both generality and accuracy. With the Y-T-F model, the efficient fatigue strength prediction could be conducted by brief linear fitting and calculation, just through yield strength, tensile strength and several known fatigue strength data. Moreover, through its deduced Y-F model, the analytical formula of fatigue strength continuously changing with materials strengthening can be obtained, as well as the maximum value of fatigue strength and corresponding critical yield strength. In summary, the Y-T-F model would be useful for reducing the fatigue tests, thus providing new possibilities on the efficient anti-fatigue design and selection of metallic materials.