  Experimental Kitagawa analysis has been performed on A356-T6 containing
natural and artificial defects. Results are obtained with a load ratio of R =
-1 for three different loadings: tension, torsion and combined tension-torsion.
The critical defect size determined is 400 \pm 100 \mum in A356-T6 under
multiaxial loading. Below this value, the microstructure governs the endurance
limit mainly through Secondary Dendrite Arm Spacing (SDAS). Four theoretical
approaches are used to simulate the endurance limit characterized by a Kitagawa
relationship are compared: Murakami relationships [Y Murakami, Metal Fatigue:
Effects of Small Defects and Nonmetallic Inclusions, Elsevier, 2002.],
defect-crack equivalency via Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM), the
Critical Distance Method (CDM) proposed by Susmel and Taylor [L. Susmel, D.
Taylor. Eng. Fract. Mech. 75 (2008) 15.] and the gradient approach proposed by
Nadot [Y. Nadot, T. ~Billaudeau. Eng. Fract. Mech. 73 (2006) 1.]. It is shown
that the CDM and gradient methods are accurate; however fatigue data for three
loading conditions is necessary to allow accurate identification of an
endurance limit.
