Mode I fatigue limit of V- and U-notches

The fatigue limit of structures containing V- and U-notches is assessed through the coupled stress-energy criterion of Finite Fracture Mechanics (FFM). The analysis is limited to mode I loading conditions. The FFM criterion is a critical-distance-based approach whose implementation requires the knowledge of two material properties, namely the plain material fatigue limit and the threshold value of the stress intensity factor (SIF) range for the fatigue crack growth of long cracks. Differently from other criteria based on a critical distance, the FFM crack advance results a structural parameter, being a function also of the notch geometry. The approach is validated by a comparison with experimental notch fatigue results taken from the literature and referred to a variety of materials and geometrical configurations.