A fatigue damage accumulation model based on continuum damage mechanics and ductility exhaustion

Using continuum damage mechanics, a fatigue damage accumulation model related to ductility exhaustion has been developed. This model was applied to study fatigue damage evolution in a pressure vessel steel and two-level cyclic tests have been carried out to verify the damage accumulation model. The experimental results showed that a damage variable, D, based on ductility exhaustion can be used to measure cumulative damage and provide a good estimate of the fatigue damage process, as well as to predict the fatigue life. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.