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Prediction of fatigue crack propagation life in notched members under variable amplitude loading

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Abstract

One of the interesting phenomenon in the study of fatigue crack propagation under variable amplitude load cycling is the crack growth retardation that normally occurs due to the application of a periodic overload. Fatigue crack growth rate under simple variable amplitude loading sequence incorporating period overloads is studied using single edge notched specimens of AISI304 stainless steel. Load interaction effects due to single and multiple overload have been addressed. Substantial retardation of fatigue crack growth rate is observed due to the introduction of periodic tensile overloads. Estimates of fatigue life have been obtained employing Wheeler model (using Paris and modified Paris equations) and Elber’s model. Analytical predictions are compared with experimental results. Results of these analytical fatigue life predictions show good agreement with the experimental fatigue life data. Fatigue crack propagation rates also have been evaluated from the fractographic study of fatigue striations seen on the fracture surface. Good agreement was found between the experimentally observed crack growth rates and the fatigue crack growth rates determined by the fractographic studies.

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Abbreviations

a :

crack length

a f :

final crack length

ao :

initial crack length

ao :

crack length before the overload

ap :

sum of crack length before the OL and the OL plastic zone size

C :

Paris constant

C p :

Wheeler’s retardation coefficient

da/dN :

fatigue crack growth rate

f(g):

the geometric factor

K c :

fracture toughness

K max :

maximum stress intensity

Kol :

stress intensity factor at the overload

ΔK :

stress intensity factor range

ΔKeff :

effective stress intensity factor

m :

Paris coefficient (slope of crack growth curve)

n :

number of cycles in the base constant amplitude cycle

N :

total number of life cycles

Lp :

number of crack propagation life cycle

p :

Wheeler’s shaping exponent

P :

applied load

ΔP :

range of applied load

Pmax :

maximum load applied in the cycle

Pmean :

mean load of cycle

P min :

minimum load applied in the cycle

r y :

plastic zone size

r OL :

overload plastic zone size

R :

stress ratio

t :

thickness of the specimen

U :

effective stress parameter

w :

width of the specimen

p:

radius of the notch

σ:

nominal stress at crack tip

σalt :

mean stress at the crack tip

σmax :

maximum stress at crack tip

σmean :

mean stress at crack tip

σmin :

minimum stress at crack tip

σop :

crack opening stress

σYS :

tensile yield strength of the material

References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petrolium and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

    Z. Khan, A. Rauf & M. Younas

Authors
  1. Z. Khan
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  2. A. Rauf
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  3. M. Younas
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Khan, Z., Rauf, A. & Younas, M. Prediction of fatigue crack propagation life in notched members under variable amplitude loading. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 6, 365–373 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-997-0102-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-997-0102-4

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