Load path sensitivity and multiaxial fatigue life prediction of metals under non-proportional loadings

Abstract

Engineering components often operate under complex loadings, in which the variable amplitude multiaxial stresses are raised by geometric discontinuities including holes, grooves, fillets and shoulders, etc. Besides, the non-proportional loading will lead to the rotation of maximum principal stress/strain and additional fatigue damage of structural elements in service. Consequently, the multiaxial and non-proportional loading have attracted increasing attentions. In this study, for distinguishing the effects of different load paths on fatigue life, a simple and applicable method to quantify the non-proportionality is defined, which comprehensively considers the influence of loadings on all material planes. A new equivalent strain damage parameter based on critical plane is proposed in this study. Specifically, to quantify the effect of non-proportional loading on fatigue damage, a non-proportional degree of loading on the generalized plane is developed. Coupling with the existing non-proportional coefficient, a novel fatigue damage parameter is derived by combining a non-proportional factor. Experimental data of 304 stainless steel, sintered porous iron and CuZn37 brass are utilized for model validation and comparison. Fatigue lives with different load paths are evaluated respectively. In comparison with the Fatemi-Socie (FS), Chen and Itoh models, proposed method more effectively evaluate the multiaxial fatigue life of materials under non-proportional loadings.