摘要：This paper proposes a new and improved way to determine the dependency of the parameter that characterizes the process zone size ∫ with fatigue lifeNf. Thus, unlike the classical approach, this approach has the advantage of allowing the construction of a ∫ versusNfrelationship, which is independent of the type of test used for calibration. In order to define the new relationship, a calibration strategy is presented considering the critical plane models based on the Fatemi-Socie and Smith-Watson-Topper. The accuracy of the method is verified by using data sets taken from the literature. A study on the effect of stress ratio (R) on the behaviour of the ∫ versusNfrelationship is presented and indicates that, although such relationship seems to depend on the R value used in the calibration, the life predictions obtained by these relationships are statistically similar.
