Multiaxial cyclic stresses

Multiaxial cyclic
stresses

Combined cyclic pressure and steady bending of a thin-walled tube with closed ends
The principal directions are constant

Combined cyclic pressure and steady torsion of a thin-walled tube with closed ends.
The principal directions vary during each cycle

Worked example:

Multiaxial stresses

An solid circular shaft of diameter 50mm is made of the Ti alloy. A zero-maximum

cyclic torque of 10kNm is applied together with a zero to maximum cyclic bending
moment of 7.5 kNm. The yield strength of the alloy is 1185 MPa. How many cycles
can be applied before fatigue failure
expected. The fatigue test of the alloy (mean
nrelation
N 0f .104is of:
= 1889
stress equals zero) shows the

2
1

One approach : using shear strain energy criterion to define a

effective stress amplitude and effective mean stress

( 1a 2a ) 2 + ( 2a 3a )2 + ( 3a 1a ) 2 = 2 ae2

2
am

me : effective mean stress

Maximum, minimum cyclic

stress (MPa)

Stress amplitude
(MPa)

1= 0, 0

1a = 0

1m = 0

2 = 814.8, 0

2a = 407.4

1m = 407.4

3 = 0, -203.6

3a = 101.8

1m = -101.8

mean stress
(MPa)

as y, z, yz , zx are zero, so 1 = 0 ,

Insert the values to

Sodeberge relation for n:

Low cycle fatigue

This type of fatigue failure occurs at high stress where with a relatively low number of
cycles to failure- short fatigue life max or | min | are above yield strength of materials
A typical stress-strain loop for constant strain cycling (hysteresis loop )under a
constant stress range or amplitude. The hysteresis loop stabilises after about 100 cycles
and equilibrium is established for the imposed strain amplitude
B

Using strain energy criterion:

(0 407.4) 2 + ( 407.4 101.8) 2 + (101.8 0) 2 = 2 ae2

1
1
[( x y ) 2 + 4 xy2 ]
2
2
1
1
= (611.2 + 0)
(611 0) 2 + 4(407.4) 2 = 814.9, 203.7 ( MPa)
2
2

2,3 = ( x + y )

4.

( 1a 2 a ) 2 + ( 2 a 3a ) 2 + ( 3a 1a ) 2 = 2 ae2

ae = 367.2 MPa

xy

The principle stresses:

( 1m 2 m ) + ( 2 m 3m ) + ( 3m 1m ) = 2
2

Mr
Mr
4(0.0075MN .m)
= 4 =
= 611.2 MPa
r / 4
(0.025m)3
I
Tr
Tr
2(0.010 MN .m)
=
=
=
= 407.4 MPa
(0.025m) 3
J r 4 / 4

x max =
xy max

ae : effective stress amplitude

2

Take a stress element at the shaft surface in time where both the torque and
the moment reach their maximum values:

Similarly, me = 466.7 MPa

367.2

466.7
=1
1185

n = 605.8 MPa

Using the given fatigue relation, the expected fatigue life of the alloy can be worked out

Low cycle fatigue: strain-Nf curve

Strain range or strain

amplitude decrease with
increased number of cycles.
The relationship between
plastic strain range and
cycles to failure can be
expressed mathematically
as:
b

p = AN f

p = AN f b

The total stain range:

= e + p =

C
b
a
b
+ AN f = N f + AN f
E
E

Mechanical Behavior of Materials: Engineering Methods for Deformation, Fracture, and Fatigue, Third Edition,
by Norman E. Dowling. ISBN 0-13-186312-6.
2007 Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ. All rights reserved.
This material is protected by Copyright and written permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system,
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Solution

Worked Example
When a fast breeder reactor is shut down quickly, the temperature of
the surface of a number of components drops from 600 oC to 400 oC in
less than a second. These components are made of a stainless steel,
and have a thick section, the bulk of which remains at the higher
temperature for several seconds. The low-cycle fatigue life of the steel
is described by:

0.2 = p N 0f .5
where Nf is the number of cycles to failure and p is the plastic strain
range. Estimate the number of fast shut downs the reactor can sustain
before serious cracking or failure will occur. The thermal expansion
coefficient of stainless steel is 1.2 x 10-5 K -1; the appropriate yield
strain at 400 oC is 0.4x10-3.

The total strain induced by the temperature drop is obtained

from:
= T = 1.2x10-5 x (600-400) = 2. 4x10-3
The plastic strain is:
p= (2.4 - 0.4)x10-3 = 2.0x10-3
then

0.2 = 2.0 10 3 N 0f .5
Nf = 10000

The number of allowable shut downs is 10000.