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Masing/non-Masing behavior of material plays an important role in the strain energy-based methods of fatigue life prediction. Materials under fatigue are found to show three distinct categories of behavior viz. Masing, non-Masing (Type-I: when master curve can be constructed) and non-Masing (Type-II: when master curve cannot be constructed). The master curve method available in the literature for the estimation of cyclic plastic strain energy density (CPSED) can be used only for Type-I non-Masing and Masing behaviors of materials. Moreover, it could be used for estimation only, not for prediction of CPSED. Very recently (in 2021), a new method, as summarized in this article, was proposed for the prediction of CPSED and fatigue life of material irrespective of Masing or non-Masing (Type-I and Type-II) behavior. Although the method was developed, the validation of the proposed method with different Type-II non-Masing behavior materials remained a matter of further investigation. As Type-II non-Masing behavior was not highlighted earlier in the literature, such data is not readily available. In this article, we conducted low cycle fatigue tests on SS 304L material, and after an extensive literature review and analysis, three materials’ data for each of Type-I and Type-II non-Masing behaviors could be collected. The method of prediction of CPSED and fatigue life is summarized and implemented on the six different materials. The CPSED and fatigue life could be predicted within a scatter band of 1.2 and 2, respectively. This article confirms the universal nature of the new method of CPSED and fatigue life prediction.

Quantitative assessment of non-Masing behavior is studied, and a new method is proposed for the estimation of cyclic plastic strain energy density and fatigue life. Low cycle fatigue tests were performed on 304L stainless steel employing strain amplitudes ranging from ±0.25% to ±1.0% at a strain rate of 3 × 10-3 s-1. The material exhibited Masing behavior at lower strain amplitudes and non-Masing behavior at higher strain amplitudes. Secondary hardening was observed at relatively higher strain amplitudes. Both the secondary hardening and non-Masing response were found to be associated with the deformation induced martensitic transformation. The master curve approach, which is generally used for the analysis of non-Masing response, could not be used as experimental data could not be represented in the form of a master curve. The proposed method of quantification of non-Masing response could estimate the cyclic plastic strain energy density of 304L stainless steel well within a scatter band of 1.2. The fatigue life of 304L stainless steel could also be predicted within a scatter band of 2. The proposed approach could also estimate the cyclic plastic strain energy density and fatigue life of materials of different grades within scatter factors of 1.2 and 2, respectively.