A correction in the algorithm of fatigue life calculation based on the critical plane approach

•A correction in the algorithm for fatigue life calculation is presented.•Constants applied in multiaxial fatigue criteria become function of fatigue life.•Improvement of convergence in calculated and experimental fatigue lives is shown.

The paper presents the algorithm for calculating the fatigue life taking into account the variability of coefficients occurring in the multiaxial fatigue criterion depending on the number of cycles to failure. The algorithm has been analysed under uniaxial cyclic loads and a combination of bending and torsion for four structural materials. Significant increase of convergence of calculated and experimental fatigue life using the new algorithm as compared to the classical approach for five selected multiaxial fatigue criteria based on a critical plane has been demonstrated.