Comparison of Variance and Damage Indicator Methods for Prediction of the Fracture Plane Orientation in Multiaxial Fatigue

ABSTRACT Two methods that enable prediction of the fracture plane orientation are presented and compared in this paper. The first one is a statistical approach, which is based on the variance of an equivalent stress. It is assumed that the fracture plane is the one where the variance of a linear combination of the shear and normal stresses acting on this plane is maximum. The second one uses the so-called damage indicator of a multiaxial fatigue criterion, which is based on the research of the critical plane. The formulation of the criterion involves shear and normal stress amplitudes and mean normal stress. The fracture plane is the critical plane; That is to say the one where the damage i…