1

Multiaxial Fatigue
What is it?
Why does it matter?
What can we do about it?
Dr Peter Heyes
HBM UK Ltd
1 May 2012
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Quantifying multiaxiality uniaxial loading
Thin sheet loaded uniformly along
the edge
Largest principal stress is aligned
with direction of applied load P
Principal stress (biaxiality) ratio
This is a PROPORTIONAL loading

2
0
1
2
= =

a
P
3
Quantifying multiaxiality biaxial loading
Inflated balloon (assume
approximately spherical)
Membrane stress equal in all
directions
Principal stress (biaxiality) ratio
This is PROPORTIONAL too!

2
1
1
2
= =

a
4
Quantifying multiaxiality pure torsion/shear
Wrap sheet around to create cylinder
Apply torque T
Torsion creates pure shear stress state
Principal stresses inclined at 45 degrees to axis
Principal stress (biaxiality) ratio

T
1
1
2
= =

a
PROPORTIONAL again
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Classic torsion fatigue failure
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Quantifying multiaxiality combined torsion and tension
Principal stress directions vary (+/- 45 degrees)
Biaxiality ratio is not constant
Loading is NON-PROPORTIONAL

1
T
P
P(t)
T(t)
0 1 a
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Quantifying multiaxiality - definitions
Orientation AND biaxiality ratio constant => PROPORTIONAL LOADING
Special cases of PROPORTIONAL loading
4Uniaxial (a = 0)
4Pure shear (a = -1)
4Equibiaxial (a = 1)
Orientation AND/OR biaxiality ratio vary => NON-PROPORTIONAL LOADING
Component surface
z
y
x

2
Free surface stresses only
Stress state is 2-D or plane
stress
Orientation
p
of
1
Biaxiality ratio a
2 1
1
2

= a
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Multiaxial loads do not always cause multiaxial loading!
Cylinder with hole
Subjected to out-of-phase loads
Critical location at the edge of the stress
concentration has UNIAXIAL loading
Geometry often gives rise to proportional or
even uniaxial stresses even under complex
loading

1
P
P(t)
T(t)
T
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Multiaxial Assessment in DesignLife standard method
Stress tensor history may be thought of as a
cloud of data points in a 3-D plot
Proportional loading points fall on a straight line
through the origin
Orientation of cloud gives mean biaxiality ratio
and principal stress directions
Aspect ratio (from principal moments of inertia)
and offset give measure of non-proportionality
equibiaxial
pure shear
uniaxial
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Visualisation of multiaxiality using virtual gauge and rosette glyphs
Why does it matter? Effect on fatigue damage
a 0
AbsMaxP ok
a 0
Signed
Tresca ok
Proportional loadings - biaxiality ratio influences type of fatigue damage
and choice of damage parameter
Non-proportional need method to capture varying stress orientation!
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Non-proportional: Wang-Brown cycle counting and damage parameter
( )
( ) ( )
c
f f
b
f
mean n f
n
N N
E S
S
2 2
. 2
1 1
.

,
max

+
+
=
Case A (a 0)
Case B (a 0)
A
ij ij ij
=
*
C
D
Equivalent Strain
Time
E
F
Reversals determined
from relative
equivalent strain
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Why does it matter? Plasticity (uniaxial and proportional)
Only turning points of pseudo-strain (or stress) required
Hysteresis loops estimated using Neuber rule (or Seeger-Heuler)
Proportional loading considered by using Hoffmann-Seeger rule to
convert to von Mises before the notch correction and back afterwards.
Why does it matter? Plasticity (non-proportional)
Yield point replaced by yield
surface (von Mises)
Need a multiaxial plasticity model
with kinematic hardening rule
4Mroz-Garud
4Chaboche
4Jiang-Sehitoglu
Response is path dependent
incremental notch and plasticity
rules required!
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Notch model validation data from Barkey et al 1994
-0.3
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
-0.2 -0.15 -0.1 -0.05 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2
Axial
strain (%)
Shear
strain (%)
-0.4
-0.3
-0.2
-0.1
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
-0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3
Shear
strain (%)
Axial
strain (%)
Experiment
Neuber
Glinka
Notched round shaft
1070 steel
Axial and torsion
loading
Out-of-phase,
rectangular loading
path
2 load levels
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What can we do about it?
Use sensible defaults in standard EN engine (AMP stress, Standard
assessment, Hoffmann-Seeger, Morrow)
For cases where some locations are multiaxial, consider using auto
multiaxial option in standard EN engine
For non-proportional cases, consider using multiaxial EN engine
(uses Jiang-Sehitoglu plasticity model, multiaxial notch correction,
Wang-Brown cycle count and damage model)
Pre-configured multiaxial glyph provided
Set Beta-feature preference to enable
HCF try Dang Van
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NonProportionalityFactor
0 PROP
< 0.1
0.1 PROP
< 0.25
0.25
PROP
Mean
Biaxiality
Ratio
-1 a < 0.6 Critical Plane
Hoffmann-Seeger
No MSC
Wang-
Brown with
mean
Jiang-
Sehitoglu/
Neuber
-0.6 a <
0.25
Abs Max
Principal,
Hoffmann-
Seeger,
Morrow
Critical
Plane
Hoffmann-
Seeger
Morrow
0.25 a <
0.6
Signed
Tresca
Hoffmann-
Seeger
Morrow
TBCPS
Hoffmann-
Seeger
Morrow
0.6 a 1 TBCPS
Hoffmann-
Seeger
Morrow
TBCPS
Hoffmann-
Seeger
Morrow
Automated smart multiaxial calculation using standard glyph
Similar to current auto
multiaxial mode in EN
engine, but
completely user
configurable
Full multiaxial solution
applied to most non-
proportional
nodes/elements
Sophisticated, but easy
to use!
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Validation case: SAE shaft with in-phase and out-of-phase loads