# Low-cycle fatigue analysis using the direct cyclic approach

 A low-cycle fatigue analysis: is characterized by states of stress high enough for inelastic deformation to occur in most cases; is a quasi-static analysis on a structure subjected to sub-critical cyclic loading; can be associated with thermal as well as mechanical loading; uses the direct cyclic approach to obtain the stabilized cyclic response of the structure directly; models progressive damage and failure in bulk ductile material based on a continuum damage mechanics approach, in which case damage initiation and evolution are characterized by the accumulated inelastic hysteresis strain energy per stabilized cycle; models propagation of a discrete crack along an arbitrary, solution-dependent path without remeshing in the bulk material based on the principles of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) with the extended finite element method, in which case the onset and growth of fatigue crack are characterized by the relative fracture energy release rate; models progressive delamination growth along a predefined path at the interfaces in laminated composites, in which case the onset and growth of fatigue delamination at the interfaces are characterized by the relative fracture energy release rate; uses the damage extrapolation technique to accelerate the low-cycle fatigue analysis; and assumes geometrically linear behavior and fixed contact conditions within each loading cycle. The following topics are discussed:
 Related Topics Defining an analysis About static stress analysis procedures Direct cyclic analysis Crack propagation analysis Modeling discontinuities as an enriched feature using the extended finite element method In Other Guides Damage and failure for ductile materials in low-cycle fatigue analysis *DAMAGE EVOLUTION *DAMAGE INITIATION *DEBOND *DIRECT CYCLIC *FRACTURE CRITERION *CONTROLS Configuring a direct cyclic procedure

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