A simple fracture criterion to predict failure of steel Structures in extremely-low cycle fatigue region

Abstract

This paper presents a simple criterion to predict the failure of steel structures due to the interaction effect of fracture and fatigue which is termed as extremely-low cycle fatigue (ELCF) failure. The criterion has been obtained from further simplification of available cyclic void growth model (CVGM). Initially the simplified ELCF fracture criterion is clearly presented and associated ELCF fracture prediction methodology is also indicated. The simplified criterion is then employed to determine ELCF fracture of some structural models. Hence verification of the simplified criterion is confirmed by comparing the results with previous criterionbased estimations. Then the simplified criterion is applied to predict the ELCF fracture of a reduced beam section specimen. Finally, study tends to conclude that the simplified criterion produces reasonable accurate prediction to ELCF fracture of steel structures where magnitude of triaxiality remains relatively constant.