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Photoelastic analysis of the stress field surrounding a fatigue crack

Fatigue crack developed in photoelastic models undergoes plastic yielding around crack tip, with resultant reduction of principal stresses and redistribution behind the crack tip

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Abstract

A photelastic analysis was carried out on plane polyester specimens containing a fatigue crack, in order to study the effect of plastic yielding around the crack tip on the elastic stress distribution in the vicinity of the crack. In general, results were in good agreement with values calculated for the case of a sharp-tipped crack. However, very near the crack tip, principal stresses obtained experimentally were slightly lower than calculated stresses, probably due to the bluntness of the fatigue crack. Also lines of constant stress tended to move behind the crack tip, in contrast with the calculated stresses, which occurred further forward over the field of investigation.

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Abbreviations

x,y :

lateral and axial coordinates, respectively, with respect to the specimen axis, emanating from the crack tip

σ p , σ q :

principal stresses

σ o :

applied axial stress

σ x , σ y :

lateral and axial normal stresses, respectively, with respect to the specimen axis

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Technion-I.I.T., Haifa, Israel

    A. Berkovits (Senior Lecturer), A. A. Betser (Associate Professor) & A. Assa (Instructor)

Authors
  1. A. Berkovits
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  2. A. A. Betser
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  3. A. Assa
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Berkovits, A., Betser, A.A. & Assa, A. Photoelastic analysis of the stress field surrounding a fatigue crack. Experimental Mechanics 14, 64–68 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02323128

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02323128

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