On the Behaviour of 316 and 304 Stainless Steel under Multiaxial Fatigue Loading: Application of the Critical Plane Approach

Abstract

In this work, the multiaxial fatigue behaviour of 316 and 304 stainless steel was studied. The study was based on the critical plane approach which is based on observations that cracks tend to nucleate and grow in specific planes. Three different critical plane models were employed to this end, namely Fatemi–Socie (FS), Smith–Watson–Topper (SWT) and the newly proposed Sandip–Kallmeyer–Smith (SKS) model. The study allowed equi-biaxial stress state, mean strain and non–proportional hardening effects to be taken into consideration. Experimental tests including different combinations of tension, torsion and inner pressure were performed and were useful to identify the predominant failure mode for the two materials. The results also showed that the SKS damage parameter returned more conservative results than FS with lower scatter level in both materials, with prediction values between FS and SWT.