Scaling theory for Wöhler plots in amorphous solids under cyclic forcing

Area of Science:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Physics

Background:

• Wöhler plots are crucial for material fatigue analysis in engineering but lack a robust theoretical foundation.
• Existing theories do not fully explain the behavior of Wöhler plots under various cyclic loading conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extend the theoretical understanding of Wöhler plots beyond cyclic bending to include cyclic tensile loads.
• To investigate the role of accumulated damage and average damage per cycle in determining material fatigue life.
• To validate a scaling theory for predicting the number of cycles to failure.

Main Methods:

• Atomistic simulations were employed to model material behavior under cyclic loading.
• The study focused on amorphous materials subjected to cyclic bending and tensile stress.
• Analysis involved calculating accumulated damage and average damage per cycle.

Main Results:

• A unified scaling theory for Wöhler plots was established, applicable to both cyclic bending and tensile loading.
• Accumulated damage and average damage per cycle were identified as key predictors of fatigue life.
• The theory successfully predicts the probability distribution functions of cycles to failure.

Conclusions:

• The developed scaling theory provides a robust theoretical framework for understanding Wöhler plots.
• The findings enable accurate prediction of material fatigue behavior under different cyclic loading scenarios.
• This research offers a new perspective on material fatigue analysis and design.