Abstract
An experimental investigation is made of very low cycle fatigue of steel angle specimens under large repeated deformations. The objective is to extract decisive factors causing cracks and ultimate failure in the course of loading repetitions of the order of a few to twenty cycles. The angle specimen was subjected to repeated axial load after undergoing inelastic buckling. The experimental investigation shows that the initiation of cracking due to very low cycle fatigue is closely related to cumulative local strains of the order of 25-40%, regardless of loading patterns, deflection modes, and width-to-thickness ratios.
