On material-agnostic fatigue life prediction using Buckingham Pi Theorem

Abstract

A robust, quantitative analysis is needed to prevent frequent, catastrophic failure of components in powerplants and aircraft, to cite but two examples, due to cyclic loading that could lead to fatigue failure. The model presented in this research will be useful in the reliable design and safe operation of components and equipment. A fatigue life (the dependent variable) prediction model, which employs both stress-based, and stress–strain based criteria is presented that uses the Buckingham Pi Theorem with the experimental parameters influencing fatigue behaviour taken as the independent variables. The validation of the model is done using reliable, frequently used uniaxial fatigue data, culled from the NIMS (National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Japan) fatigue database on important industrial alloys that experience fatigue loading in service. (No reliable data on such a scale were available to test the validity of this model under multi-axial fatigue loading conditions.) It is demonstrated that the model predicts the experimental results accurately. The accuracy of prediction is examined for every case and compared with that of some other existing methods. Moreover, the potential applicability of this analysis in areas not yet validated is examined.