A multiaxial strain cycle (32, 72) is received that is described by a strain tensor that is a function of time. A hyperelastic constitutive model (34, 74) corresponding to the material is received. A fatigue crack growth curve (36, 76) is obtained. A cracking energy density is calculated (50, 90) based on the constitutive model (34, 74) and the multiaxial strain cycle (32, 72). The cracking energy density is a function of material plane (44, 84) and indicates the portion of the total elastic strain energy density that is available to be released on a selected material plane (48, 88). A cracking plane is determined (54, 98) based upon the cracking energy density. A fatigue life is estimated (60, 100) based on the cracking plane and the fatigue crack growth curve (36, 76).
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