Multiaxial fatigue criterion for a high-density polyethylene thermoplastic

The multiaxial fatigue behaviour of a high-density polyethylene was investigated at room temperature and constant frequency. As a consequence of the mode of failure, an end-of-life criterion for fatigue tests is discussed in the first part of the work, in order to define the number of cycles to failure. Based on force controlled fatigue tests under tension, compression and torsion at two stress ratio, a multiaxial fatigue criterion including the stress-ratio effect is proposed for the fatigue design of this polymer. This criterion is based on the maximum and mean values of the second invariant of the stress tensor.