An Incremental Criterion for Time-Dependent Failure of Materials

A criterion for the time-dependent failure of materials is developed based upon the concept that failure results from an incremental accumulation of damage. The failure criterion is thereby explicitly tied to the incremental flow law describing the inelastic deformations. The damage increment is assumed as a product of functions of the stored strain energy due to inelastic deformations, the mean hydrostatic stress, and the damage itself. The consequences of the failure criterion for various types of loading are discussed.