Issue 16

L. Susmel, Frattura ed Integrità Strutturale, 16 (2011) 5-17; DOI: 10.3221/IGF-ESIS.16.01 14 Finally, the diagram of Fig. 6 shows the error distribution measured in terms of Probability Density Function, which is nothing but the normal distribution calculated from the mean value and the standard deviation of any of the two considered data sets (i.e., plain and notched samples). In more detail, according to Fig. 6, the error distribution obtained when estimating multiaxial endurance limits of plain materials was characterised by a mean value equal to 0.3% and by a standard deviation of 7.3. Similarly, in the presence of stress concentration phenomena, the error distribution had mean value equal to -1.1% and standard deviation equal to 8.3. To conclude, it is possible to say that, as suggested by the Probability Density Function diagram of Fig. 6, the systematic use of the MWCM is seen to result in 85% of the estimates falling within an error interval of ±10%. Figure 5 : Accuracy of the MWCM, applied in terms of nominal stresses, in estimating high-cycle fatigue strength of notched metallic materials subjected to multiaxial loading paths, where IPh=in-phase, OoPh=out-of-phase, ZMS=zero mean stress, N-ZMS=non-zero mean stress. Figure 6 : Error distribution in terms of Probability Density Function. C ONCLUSIONS 1) The MWCM is capable of correctly taking into account the mean stress effect in multiaxial fatigue; 2) The MWCM is seen to be highly accurate in accounting for the degree of multiaxiality and non-proportionality of the applied loading path; 10 100 1000 10 100 1000  A,eq [MPa]  An [MPa] IPh, ZMS IPh, N-ZMS OoPh, ZMS OoPh, N-ZMS Conservative Non-Conservative Error = -15% Error = +15% 19 Different Materials 178 Experimental Results 0 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.06 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 Error [%] Probability Density Function Plain Samples Notched Samples Non-Conservative Conservative