Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2011
In this paper, an endochronic theory of cyclic viscoplasticy with damage is established based on the irreversible thermodynamics of continuous media with internal state variables containing an isotropic damage parameter. The constitutive equations derived have the same mathematical form as those of convectional endochronic theory without damage, except the effective stress with damage is used. This result coincides with the Lemaitre's statements of stain equivalence principle.
Using the experimental cyclic stress-strain curves of 63Sn/37Pb solder bars, corrected from the uniaxially constant displacement amplitude cyclic tests under MTS Tytron microtester, the computational results of cyclic stess-strain curves with several degrees of damage can reproduce the experimental data quite well. Based on compressive buckling appeared in the vicinity of the compressive end parts of the hysteresis loop, the critical values of damage are determined between 0.3 and 0.4.
The evolution equation of damage proposed in terms of the intrinsic damage time scale and its results in the modified Coffin-Manson LCF law can be extended in the future research for a statistical theory of life distribution under low cycle fatigue tests.