2025/6/7 12.6.
1 Low-Cycle Fatigue (LCF) [Aeroengine Safety]
Aeroengine Safety
Institute of Thermal Turbomachinery and Machine Dynamics
Graz University of Technology
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12.6.1 Low-Cycle Fatigue (LCF)
Low-cycle fatigue (LCF; Fig. "LCF as lifespan determining") is not defined by a low
frequency, although this is the most common type. The determining factor is the load level at which
a “noticeable plastic deformation” occurs in the life-determining part zone. These load
cycles are, in most cases, induced by very low-frequency mechanical loads such as centrifugal force
changes or resulting changes in the gas pressures, and constricted thermal strain. These usually
occur during startup/shutdown cycles and changes in output. However, it is also plausible that FOD
and/or blade fractures could cause sudden high-frequency plastic deformations that lead to LCF
fracture (Volume 1, Ill. 5.2.1.1-4).
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2025/6/7 12.6.1 Low-Cycle Fatigue (LCF) [Aeroengine Safety]
Terminology of LCF fatigue stress:
Low-Cycle-Fatigue (LCF)
Short-time fatigue
Non-isothermal fatigue Isothermal fatigue
Thermo-Mechanical- Thermal-Fatigue (TF)
Fatigue (TMF)
Occurs under the influence
Occurs under the influence of internal forces
of external forces
Figure "Terminology of LCF fatigue stress": The limits of low-cycle fatigue (LCF) in
the range of short-time fatigue are shown in the Woehler diagram in Fig. "LCF as
lifespan determining". LCF-stress can be classified into isothermal and non-isothermal
fatigue. Isothermal fatigue occurs at a constant temperature and under externally originating
cyclical loads. This can occur through inertial forces such as the centrifugal forces of rotor
components, external forces such as gas bending forces or clamping forces, or very high dynamic
loads (for example, caused by consequential damages or resonance, due to flutter vibrations,
etc.).
Non-isothermal fatigue can be further divided depending on whether there is an external
constraint (e.g. centrifugal force) or an internal constraint (e.g. constrained thermal
expansion).
In the case of an external constraint, this type of fatigue is referred to as thermo-
mechanical-fatigue (TMF). A typical example of this is the hub area of a turbine disk in
which thermal strain cyclically overlays with powerful loads resulting from centrifugal forces.
This combination can occur either in-phase or phase-shifted.
Thermal fatigue (TF) occurs when temperature changes create temperature gradients in the
part which cause constrained thermal strain and corresponding stress cycles to accumulate
(“internal force”, strain-controlled process, Fig. "Cracks protecting from thermal
fatigue"). In this case, external forces play either a minor role or no role at all. A typical
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2025/6/7 12.6.1 Low-Cycle Fatigue (LCF) [Aeroengine Safety]
example is high-pressure turbine guide vanes, in which TF cracking seems to be unavoidable
and is therefore frequently allowed within specified limits.
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