Investigating the effect of the characteristics of inclusions and micro-voids on fretting fatigue initiation lifetime with two-scale analysis approach

Fretting fatigue problem involves a multiaxial stress state due to the contact problem. This complicated mechanical situation decreases the total fatigue life seriously. To obtain an accurate estimation of fretting fatigue lifetime, continuum damage mechanics (CDM) approach in conjunction with finite element method (FEM) is applied in this paper. Usually, the material is assumed by researchers as homogeneous material, but some micro-voids, inclusions and micro-cracks exist in the material in reality. These defects influence the estimation of fretting fatigue lifetime dramatically, and it is necessary to take these defects into account. In this paper, the authors investigate the characteristics of micro-voids and inclusions on fretting fatigue lifetime with a two-scale analysis approach