Fatigue

Definition: Damage accumulated through the

application of repeated stress cycles

Variable amplitude loadings cause different

levels of fatigue

Fatigue is cumulative through the life of an

engineering element
Factors Affecting Fatigue Life
Loading Conditions
 Type of stress
 Stress amplitude, mean value
Condition of Specimen/Structural Member
 Stress concentrations
 Surface finish
Material
 Thermal history (e.g. grain size in metals)
Environmental conditions
 Temperature
 Corrosion effects
Loading Characteristics
 Effect of Mean Stresses

ult
a a
m>0
m=0

No mean stress Mean Stresses

reduce the stress
range
Stress Amplitude vs. Mean
Goodman Relationship: lower the mean
stresses, the greater the allowable
stress amplitude for the same life.

a a m
 1
f  f u

u m
 Example: Goodman Diagram
If f=u/2, m=u/2,
What is the max and min  that can be applied?

a

u/2f min= u/4 max= 3u/4

u/4f

u m
u/2m
Stress vs. Number of Cycles
S-N Diagram

Lower mean stress

Miner’s Rule
Damage from variable loadings is related to the life
consumed by number of cycles at each particular
STRESS RANGE. The summation of life consumed at
each stress range must be less than 1 to avoid
failure.

where: ni/Nfi  1
ni = number of repetitions applied at i
Nfi = number of repetitions to cause failure at a stress
range, i
(ni < Nfi)
 Example problem - Miner’s Rule
Stress Range, No. Applied No. Cycles to
i (ksi) Cycles, Ni Failure,Nfi

3 900 10,000
5 50 500

Ni/Nfi = 900/10,000 + 50/500 

= 0.09 + 0.10
= 0.19 5
0.19 < 1.0  OK 3
Used 19% of fatigue life,
81% remains Log N
500 10,000
Fatigue tests
1. Beam Fatigue 2. Tension- Compression

V
3. Others

M Loading Patterns:
1. Reverse stresses, + to -
M 2. Alternate zero to some maximum
2c
3. Alternate above some base value
max = Mc/I