A method for fatigue analysis of metallic and composite materials under asymmetric high-cycle loading

A new method of plotting limit stress diagrams is set forth. The method is based on the hypothesis of unified limit diagram invariant to the number of cycles to failure. The unified diagram is given by a transcendental power function whose exponent is considered an additional material constant characterizing the sensitivity of the material to cycle asymmetry (stress ratio). The equations derived on the basis of this function encompass all forms of limit stress diagrams, including convex, nearly rectilinear, and concave ones. The method is tested for a wide range of metallic and composite materials subjected to asymmetric tension-compression, bending, and torsion.