A numerical method for elasto-plastic notch-root stress–strain analysis

In this article, a computational modeling method of the multiaxial stress–strain notch analysis has been developed to compute elasto-plastic notch-tip stress–strain responses using linear elastic finite element results of notched components. Application and validation of the multiaxial stress–strain notch analysis model were presented by comparing computed results of the model to the experimental data of SAE 1070 steel notched shaft subjected to several nonproportional load paths. Based on the comparison between the experimental and computed strain histories, the elasto-plastic stress–strain model predicted notch strains with reasonable accuracy using linear elastic finite element stress histories. The elasto-plastic stress–strain notch analysis model provides an efficient and simple analysis method preferable to expensive experimental component tests and more complex and time-consuming incremental nonlinear finite element analysis. The elasto-plastic stress–strain model can thus be employed to perform fatigue life and fatigue damage estimates associated with the local material deformation.