Local limit loads in components with competing failure locations

Abstract

AbstractThe plastic limit load is an important feature of the S‐N curve. The classical way of plastic limit load calculation using elastic‐ideal plastic material behaviour is restricted to one location of the component. Complex components normally have several fatigue critical locations, for all of them the local plastic limit loads has to be determined. By the classical way the plastic limit load can be evaluated only for one of them. A new method is presented. The local plastic notch factor Kp and the corresponding plastic limit loads are calculated applying Neuber's rule to FE calculations with plastic hardening material. The new method is validated on the basis of six different notched specimens. The need and capability is exemplarily shown on a specimen with two competing failure locations.