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Fatigue crack propagation under varied mean stress conditions

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Abstract

Measurements of fatigue crack growth rates in copper monocrystalline and polycrystalline sheet specimens have been made at 295 K and 77 K to determine mean stress effects on growth rates. When load conditions remained unchanged throughout the period of crack growth, the rate of fatigue crack growth is independent of the level of mean stress and depends only on the cyclic stress amplitude. When the mean stress is changed during the crack growth period, a reduction of mean stress under plane strain conditions causes complete cessation of growth. A similar effect was not observed in plane stress crack growth, presumably due to reduced elastic constraint in narrow specimens containing large cracks. No change in growth rates occurs if the mean load is increased. In the event of crack growth stoppage, either restoration of the full previous mean load or crack re-nucleation under continued cycling at the reduced load levels is sufficient to restore the prior growth rate. A simple model is adapted to explain these observations which emphasizes the interaction of the growth rate with compressive residual stresses generated at the tip of the propagating crack.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Minerals Engineering, University of Illinois, 61801, Urbana, Illinois

    R. A. Yeske (Assistant Professor)

  2. Geological Sciences Department, North western University, USA

    J. Weertman

Authors
  1. R. A. Yeske
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  2. J. Weertman
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Additional information

R. A. Yeske, formerly Research Assistant at Materials Science Department, Northwestern University, Evanston, III.

This paper is based on a portion of a thesis submitted by R. A. Yeske in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Northwestern University.

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Yeske, R.A., Weertman, J. Fatigue crack propagation under varied mean stress conditions. Metall Trans 5, 2033–2039 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02644496

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