Isothermal and Thermo-Mechanical Fatigue Life Prediction Using the Total Strain Energy Density-Based Approach

Abstract

Accurate fatigue life prediction is essential for ensuring the reliability of engineering designs, particularly under thermo-mechanical fatigue conditions. This study focuses on investigating the isothermal and thermo-mechanical low-cycle fatigue of 316 FR stainless steel using finite element analysis in ABAQUS. The research evaluates the accuracy of fatigue life prediction using the total strain energy density-based approach, including Masing and non-Masing methods. The predicted results, when compared with experimental data, highlight the high accuracy of FEA in replicating cyclic behavior under both loading conditions. Additionally, the non-Masing method exhibits the highest accuracy for fatigue life prediction, particularly under isothermal loading conditions.

Keywords

• thermo-mechanical fatigue
• isothermal fatigue
• finite element analysis
• Masing and non-Masing methods
• 316 FR stainless steel