A bi-parametric Wohler curve for high cycle multiaxial fatigue assessment

This paper presents a method for estimating high-cycle fatigue strength under multiaxial loading conditions. The physical interpretation of the fatigue damage is based on the theory of cyclic deformation in single crystals. Such a theory is also used to single out those stress components which can be considered significant for crack nucleation and growth in the so-called Stage I regime. Fatigue life estimates are carried out by means of a modified Wohler curve which can be applied to both smooth and blunt notched components, subjected to either in-phase or out-of-phase loads. The modified Wohler curve plots the fatigue strength in terms of the maximum macroscopic shear stress amplitudes, the reference plane - where such amplitudes have to be evaluated - being thought of as coincident with the fatigue microcrack initiation plane. The position of the fatigue strength curve also depends on the stress component normal to such a plane and the phase angle as well. About 450 experimental data taken from the literature are used to check the accuracy of the method under multiaxial fatigue conditions.