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The effect of mean stress on fatigue crack propagation a literature review

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Abstract

Most investigations of fatigue crack propagation have been carried out using pulsating tension loading and rate of crack propagation (da/dN) expressed in terms of range of stress intensity factor (ΔK). However, mean stress can have a significant effect on da/dN, so that generally it should be expressed in terms of mean and range of stress intensity factor. Literature relating to the effect of mean stress on da/dN, mainly in steels and aluminium alloys, is reviewed in the present report. Empitical relationships which allow the correlation of crack propagation data obtained at different mean stresses, crack propagation theories which predict the effect of mean stress, and fundamental explanations of the effects of mean stress are discussed. Suggestions for future research are made.

Résumé

La plupart des études sur la propagation des fissures de fatigue ont été accomplies en se basant sur des sollicitations de tension pulsées, et la vitesse de propagation de la fissure (da/dN) a été exprimée en fonction de la variation du facteur d'intensité des contraintes (ΔK). Toutefois, la tension moyenne peut avoir une influence déterminante sur da/dN, de sorte que ce rapport devrait être exprimé en fonction de la valeur moyenne et de la variation du facteur d'intensité des contraintes. La littérature relative à l'influence de la tension moyenne sur da/dN est passée en revue dans le présent article, spécialement dans le cas des aciers et des alliages d'aluminium. On discute des relations empiriques qui permettent d'établir une corrélation entre les données de propagation de fissures obtenues à différentes tensions moyennes, les théories de la propagation qui prédisent l'effet de la tension moyenne et les explications fondamentales sur le rôle de la tension moyenne.

Des suggestions sur des recherches futures sont formulées.

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  1. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Southampton, SO9 5NH, Southampton, England

    S. J. Maddox

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Maddox, S.J. The effect of mean stress on fatigue crack propagation a literature review. Int J Fract 11, 389–408 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00033527

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