A post‐processing procedure for predicting high‐ and low‐cycle fatigue life of welded structures based on the master E–N curve

Abstract This work provides a post‐processing procedure to predict the high‐ and low‐cycle fatigue life of welded structures. The post‐processor calculates the equivalent structural strain range, given the traction stress state at the weld notch, by enforcing the equilibrium condition and Navier's hypothesis. The return mapping algorithm is applied to deal with the low‐cycle fatigue condition in which through‐thickness plastic deformation develops. The proposed method predicts the fatigue life of 793 welded joints of different configurations made from steel, magnesium, titanium, and aluminum alloy. The predicted high‐ and low‐cycle fatigue lives agree equally well with the experimental result.