A review of multiaxial low-cycle fatigue criteria for life prediction of metals

Most of real-world structural components that undergo cyclic loading feature multiaxial fatigue. When the cyclic loading involves also significant plastic deformation, multiaxial low-cycle fatigue takes place. Applications where multiaxial low-cycle fatigue can be observed very often involve metal components. To predict their lives multiple criteria and models have been proposed, but their development has not followed a regular path. Multiple reviews are available in literature. However, many of them are outdated, they often employ different classification methods to categorize available criteria, many focus on specific families of criteria, and others do not include sufficient theoretical background. Moreover, none of the available reviews is based on a systematic literature search method. As a result, approaching the topic can result arduous and chaotic, especially for first timers. This work aims at providing a clear, comprehensive, and definitive review of available criteria for multiaxial low-cycle fatigue. First, the basic theoretical background is explained. Secondly, a systematic approach is described and employed to identify all major currently available criteria. Then, they are classified and commentary about different classification styles that can be found in literature is added. Eventually they are described, together with their latest proposed variations. In this way this review can be employed as a guiding reference, especially for engineers approaching the topic for the first time.