POST WELD HEAT TREATMENT EFFECTS ON FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION IN AN ELECTRON BEAM WELDMENT

This paper studies the effect of two post-weld heat treatment processes on the fatigue behaviour of an electron beam weldment in 9 mm AISI 4130 steel. Electron beam tempering, in a vacuum chamber, immediately after welding and a traditional furnace tempering treatment were compared. Fatigue crack propagation resistance was assessed by a linear elastic fracture mechanics analysis. The resistance to fatigue crack growth was improved with post weld heat treatment due to residual stress relief and the existence of a toughened tempered microstructure. The specimens with an electron beam post-weld heat treatment showed better fatigue properties than those of furnace-treated specimens. An electron beam post-weld heat treatment causes the fatigue crack growth rate to decrease with increasing energy input and decreasing micro-dot-pattern width. For a furnace post-weld heat treatment, the fatigue crack growth rate decreases with increasing tempering temperature.     

PREDICTION OF THE FATIGUE LIMIT OF CRACKED SPECIMENS BASED ON THE CYCLIC R-CURVE METHOD

Abstract— The propagation behaviour of fatigue cracks emanating from pre-cracks was numerically simulated to evaluate the development of crack closure with crack growth. The crack opening stress intensity factor at the threshold was approximated as a function of the applied stress and the amount of crack extension. Pre-cracked specimens of a medium-carbon steel with a small surface crack and a single-edge crack were fatigued to investigate experimentally the initiation and propagation of cracks from pre-cracks. Crack closure was dynamically measured by using an interferometric strain/displacement gauge. The threshold condition of crack initiation from pre-cracks was given by a constant value of the effective stress intensity range which was equal to the threshold value for long cracks. The cyclic R -curve was constructed in terms of the threshold value of the maximum stress intensity factor as a function of crack extension approximated on the basis of the experimental and numerical results. The cyclic R -curve method was used to predict the fatigue thresholds of pre-cracked specimens. The predicted values of the fatigue limits for crack initiation and fracture, and the length of non-propagating cracks agreed very well with the experimental results.     

Comparative study of fatigue and fracture in friction stir and electron beam welds of 24 mm thick titanium alloy Ti‐6Al‐4 V

In this study, friction stir welding of Ti‐6Al‐4 V was demonstrated in 24 mm thickness material. The microstructure and mechanical properties, fatigue, fracture toughness and crack growth of these thick section friction stir welds were evaluated and compared with electron beam welds produced in the same thickness material. It was found that the friction stir welds possessed a relatively coarse lamellar alpha transformed beta microstructure because of slow cooling from above the transus temperature of the material. The electron beam welds had a fine acicular alpha structure as a result of rapid solidification. The friction stir welds possessed better ductility, fatigue life, fracture toughness and crack growth resistance than the base meal or electron beam welds. Thus, even though friction stir welding is a relatively new process, the performance benefits it offers for the fabrication of heavy gage primary structure make it a more attractive option than the more well‐established electron beam welding method.     

Fatigue crack growth behaviour of gas tungsten arc,electron beam and laser beam welded Ti–6Al–4V alloy

The present investigation is aimed to evaluate fatigue crack growth parameters of gas tungsten arc, electron beam and laser beam welded Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy for assessing the remaining service lives of existing structure by fracture mechanics approach. Center cracked tensile specimens were tested using a 100 kN servo hydraulic controlled fatigue testing machine under constant amplitude uniaxial tensile load. Crack growth curves were plotted and crack growth parameters (exponent and intercept) were evaluated. Fatigue crack growth behavior of welds was correlated with mechanical properties and microstructural characteristics of welds. Of the three joints, the joint fabricated by laser beam welding exhibited higher fatigue crack growth resistance due to the presence of fine lamellar microstructure in the weld metal.     

桥梁高性能钢HPS485W疲劳裂纹扩展速率试验研究

以国产桥梁用高性能钢HPS485W为研究对象,对7.5mm、12.5mm和19.5mm的HPS485W紧凑拉伸试样分别在应力比R=0.1、R=0.5和R=0.8的疲劳荷载下进行疲劳裂纹扩展速率(da/dN)试验,采用七点递增多项式的方法进行局部拟合求得试样的疲劳裂纹扩展速率。与传统桥梁用钢14MnNb相比,该文试验测得高性能钢HPS485W具有更优越的忍受疲劳裂纹扩展能力。试验结果表明:试样厚度是影响疲劳裂纹扩展速率的关键因素;对同一厚度的试样,疲劳裂纹扩展速率随着应力比R的增大而增大。此外,对19.5mm试样在荷载比R=0.1的情况下,进行工程门槛值的试验测定和理论门槛值的数值求解,分析求得19.5mm的HPS485W的理论门槛值为7.22MPa·m1/2。该文试验得到的HPS485W疲劳裂纹扩展曲线,可用于高性能钢桥的抗疲劳、防断裂设计与寿命预测。     

Correlation of fatigue properties and microstructure in investment cast Ti-6Al-4V welds

The effect of microstructural characteristics on high-cycle fatigue properties and fatigue crack propagation behavior of welded regions of an investment cast Ti-6Al-4V were investigated. High-cycle fatigue and fatigue crack propagation tests were conducted on the welded regions, which were processed by two different welding methods: tungsten inert gas (TIG) and electron beam (EB) welding. Test data were analyzed in relation to microstructure, tensile properties, and fatigue fracture mode. The base metal was composed of an alpha plate colony structure transformed to a basket-weave structure with thin platelets after welding and annealing. High-cycle fatigue results indicated that fatigue strength of the EB weld was lower than that of the base metal or the TIG weld because of the existence of large micropores formed during welding, although it had the highest yield strength. In the case of the fatigue crack propagation, the EB weld composed of thinner platelets had a faster crack propagation rate than the base metal or the TIG weld. The effective microstructural feature determining the fatigue crack propagation rate was found to be the width of platelets because it was well matched with the reversed cyclic plastic zone size calculated in the threshold ΔK regime.     

On the fatigue crack growth behaviour of selective laser melting fabricated Inconel 625: Effects of build orientation and stress ratio

The building of Inconel 625 material was carried out using the selective laser melting method, and its fatigue crack growth property at ambient temperature was experimentally investigated. Compact‐tension specimens with different building orientations were utilized to determine the stress intensity factor threshold and fatigue crack growth rate curves at different stress ratios (R). The results indicated that the fatigue crack growth properties in the near threshold stress intensity factor and Paris regions were greatly affected by the loading factor, as well as the orientation of the alloy. The mechanism of fatigue crack growth at different stages was observed and discussed using scanning electron microscopy. Finally, based on the framework of the linear elastic fracture, a new and applicable effective driving force factor range was introduced to replace the traditional stress intensity factor range (ΔK) with good accuracy for all of the fatigue crack growth test data, considering both the stress ratio and orientation.     

A study on fatigue crack growth in dual phase martensitic steel in air environment

Dual phase (DP) steel was intercritically annealed at different temperatures from fully martensitic state to achieve martensite plus ferrite, microstructures with martensite contents in the range of 32 to 76%. Fatigue crack growth (FCG) and fracture toughness tests were carried out as per ASTM standards E 647 and E 399, respectively to evaluate the potential of DP steels. The crack growth rates (da/dN) at different stress intensity ranges (ΔK) were determined to obtain the threshold value of stress intensity range (ΔK_th). Crack path morphology was studied to determine the influence of microstructure on crack growth characteristics. After the examination of crack tortuosity, the compact tension (CT) specimens were pulled in static mode to determine fracture toughness values. FCG rates decreased and threshold values increased with increase in vol.% martensite in the DP steel. This is attributed to the lower carbon content in the martensite formed at higher intercritical annealing (ICA) temperatures, causing retardation of crack growth rate by crack tip blunting and/or deflection. Roughness induced crack closure was also found to contribute to the improved crack growth resistance at higher levels of martensite content. Scanning electron fractography of DP steel in the near threshold region revealed transgranular cleavage fracture with secondary cracking. Results indicate the possibility that the DP steels may be treated to obtain an excellent combination of strength and fatigue properties.     

Effect of stress ratio on near-threshold propagation of delimination fatigue cracks in unidirectional CFRP

The effect of the stress ratio on near-threshold growth of delamination fatigue cracks was investigated with unidirectional laminates made from Ciba Geigy 914C prepegs (T300/914) and from Toray P305 prepegs (T300/#2500). Tests of delamination fatigue crack propagation were carried out under mode I opening loading by using double cantilever beam specimens. The normalized gradient of energy release range was controlled in load-shedding tests. In the region of crack growth rates above about 5 × 10⁻¹⁰ m/cycle, the growth rate was expressed as a power function of fracture mechanics parameters. Below this region, there existed a growth threshold. The influence of the stress ratio became smaller when the rate was correlated to the energy release rate range than when the rate was correlated to the stress intensity range or the maximum energy release rate. A controlling fracture mechanics parameter is discussed on the basis of fractographic observation and mechanism consideration. A new phenomenological law of fatigue crack propagation is derived.     

Effect of submillimeter size holes on the fatigue limit of a high strength tool steel

The very high cycle fatigue and small fatigue crack growth behaviour of a generic tool steel material for diesel fuel injector application are described. The small crack growth tests for the tool steel material with and without the hardening heat treatment revealed the mechanisms of crack propagation and threshold behaviour. Based on the small fatigue crack propagation threshold value, an elastic plastic fracture mechanics methodology for the prediction of the endurance limit of specimens with submillimeter holes is proposed. The advantages of the new methodology are discussed in relation to existing methodologies for endurance limit prediction of specimens with small holes.     

A NEW METHOD FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF MODE II FATIGUE THRESHOLD STRESS INTENSITY FACTOR RANGE ΔKτth

Abstract— In order to evaluate the threshold value Δ K _τth for mode II fatigue crack growth, a new measurement method of mode II fatigue crack growth has been developed. This method uses a conventional closed-loop tension—compression fatigue testing machine without additional loading attachments. Mode II fatigue tests for structural steel and rail steel have been carried out. This method has proved successful and has reproduced mode II fatigue fracture surfaces similar to those found in the spalling of industrial steel-making rolls. The crack length during testing was measured by an AC potential method. The relationships between d a /d N and Δ K _τ and AK _τth for several materials have been obtained.     

Modeling of fatigue crack growth threshold development for a microstructurally small crack

A method for predicting the fatigue crack growth threshold using finite element analysis is investigated. The proposed method consists of monitoring the plastic strain hysteresis energy dissipation in the crack tip plastic zone, with the threshold being defined in terms of a critical value of this dissipated energy. Two-dimensional plane-strain elastic-plastic finite element analyses are conducted to model fatigue crack growth in a middle-crack tension M(T) specimen. A single-crystal constitutive relationship is employed to simulate the anisotropic plastic deformation near the tip of a microstructurally small crack without grain boundary interactions. Variable amplitude loading with a continual load reduction is used to generate the load history associated with fatigue crack growth threshold measurement. Load reductions with both constant load ratio R and constant maximum stress intensity K_max are simulated. In comparison with a fixed K_max load reduction, a fixed R load reduction is predicted to generate a 35% to 110% larger fatigue crack growth threshold value.     

Mechanics and synergetics of the selfsimilar growth of a fatigue crack

As was shown by T. Yokobori, it is important to combine the fracture mechanics approach with analysis of the fracture mechanism. Analyses parameters controlling boundaries of the selfsimilar growth of a fatigue crack and the relation between threshold characteristics of fracture toughness, corresponding to the change of fracture mechanism (bifurcation points) were carried. The analysis conducted on steels, titanium and aluminium alloys shows that bifurcation points in the fatigue crack growth are highly informative. Their recognition can be instrumental in establishing the relationship between characteristics of cyclic and static fracture toughness.     

FRACTOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH IN ENGINE COMPRESSOR DISKS OF Ti-6Al-3Mo-2Cr TITANIUM ALLOY

Abstract—Fractographic features related to fatigue crack growth in a Ti-6Al-3Mo alloy are studied using compressor disks tested on a hydraulic test bed and which simulate operational multiaxial cyclic loading conditions. The hold-time of a cycle results in the formation of a fracture relief which reflects mainly the two-phase (α+β) lamellar structure of the titanium alloy and a fragmentary fatigue striation formation. Correlation between the number of fatigue striations on the fracture surface and the number of applied blocks of loading (imitating the service conditions of compressor disks) has been obtained. The hold-time duration of the cycle does not affect the crack growth rate and the formation of the fracture relief in this material. An analytic expression is suggested to describe the relationship between fatigue striation spacing, δ, and the stress intensity factor K ^c_I as applied to quarter-ellipse-shaped cracks; it is of the form δ= C[ f (τ, FCi)K^c _I]⁴, where f (τ, FCi ) accounts for the hold-time, τ, and the programmed loading together with their influence on the fatigue crack growth behaviour. The particular threshold value of stress intensity factor ( K ^c_I) is established at 20 MPa m. The work indicates that the role of τ manifests itself via a considerable acceleration of crack growth.     

The effect of mode ratio and bond interface on the fatigue behavior of a highly-toughened epoxy

The fatigue threshold and the cyclic crack growth of a highly-toughened epoxy adhesive were studied under mode I and several mixed-mode loading cases and compared with the quasi-static critical fracture energies. Four different adhesive systems were examined using steel and aluminum substrates having different surface roughness, and surface treatment. The effect of increasing the amount of mode II (increasing the phase angle) on the fatigue threshold strain energy release rate and the cyclic crack growth rate was found to be insignificant at low phase angles. However, a significant increase in the fatigue threshold and decrease in the cyclic crack growth rate was observed at higher phase angles. These trends were similar to that seen in adhesive joint fracture. Adherend surface roughness and surface preparation affected the fatigue behavior significantly, particularly at low crack speeds and high phase angles. The fatigue properties were essentially the same for both steel and aluminum adherends provided that the crack paths were cohesive. A general observation was that the fatigue crack path moved progressively closer to the more highly strained adherend under mixed-mode loading as the applied strain energy release rate and hence the crack speed, decreased. This caused mixed-mode cracks to be nearly interfacial in the threshold region.     

EFFECT OF LASER BEAM RADIATION ON FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH BEHAVIOUR

This paper studies the effect of laser beam radiation on the fatigue crack growth threshold and the crack growth rate in 25CrMnSi steel plate. A comparison of radiated and unradiated specimens permits the derivation of an equation for the fatigue crack growth rate. The results show that radiation can enhance the fatigue threshold and retard crack growth rate.     

TIG与FSW焊接工艺下2219铝合金疲劳裂纹扩展性能研究

目的 研究钨极惰性气体保护焊（TIG）和搅拌摩擦焊（FSW）对2219铝合金焊接接头疲劳性能的影响,并探究这2种不同焊接技术条件下焊接接头疲劳裂纹的产生与裂纹扩展原理,了解2种焊接接头的抗裂纹扩展能力,为工程实践应用提供数据参考。方法 采用疲劳裂纹扩展试验方法,测试上述2种焊接工艺条件下焊缝金属和热影响区组织的疲劳裂纹扩展速率da/d N和阈值,使用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜观察并分析金相组织和疲劳断口形貌特征。结果 疲劳裂纹倾向于沿裂纹处萌生,裂纹的存在成为主要的裂纹扩展源头,有利于加速裂纹向前延伸。热影响区由于组织结构不均匀,不同位置的晶粒尺寸存在明显差异,疲劳裂纹扩展路径倾向于沿靠近焊缝一侧向靠近母材区域扩展。TIG焊接工艺下焊缝金属和热影响区的裂纹扩展速率明显低于FSW焊接工艺下的焊缝金属和热影响区,与此同时,TIG焊接接头表现出优良的抗疲劳裂纹扩展性能。结论 通过此研究,建议2219铝合金焊接接头采用TIG焊接工艺,抗疲劳裂纹扩展效果更佳。     

不同应力比下Cu/WCp复合材料疲劳裂纹扩展行为及影响机制分析

通过粉末冶金工艺制备了一种高压电触头用Cu/WCp颗粒增强复合材料。研究了不同应力比下Cu/WCp颗粒增强复合材料的疲劳裂纹扩展行为,并结合裂纹闭合模型和两参数驱动力模型分析了应力比对Cu/WCp颗粒增强复合材料疲劳裂纹扩展速率的影响机制。研究结果表明:随着应力比R的增大裂纹扩展速率增大,尤其在近门槛值附近裂纹扩展速率差别最明显。裂纹闭合模型和两参数驱动力模型均可以较好地将不同应力比R下(da/d N-ΔK)关系曲线关联起来,且两参数驱动力模型的相关性更好。这说明导致不同应力比R下Cu/WCp颗粒增强复合材料疲劳裂纹扩展速率差异的原因主要是Kmax引起裂纹尖端单调损伤,其次是裂纹闭合效应。根据SEM断口分析发现高应力比的断面较低应力比的粗糙,低应力比时断口以基体撕裂为主而高应力比时以颗粒基体脱粘为主。     

THE EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENT ON CRACK CLOSURE AND FATIGUE THRESHOLD*

Abstract— The threshold value for fatigue crack growth of a medium carbon steel was increased when the test-environment was changed from air to an aggressive H₂S-containing brine. This increase in fatique threshold was shown to be caused by corrosion product-induced crack closure. Further, the fatigue threshold and crack closure level were shown to be dependent on the growth rate history in approaching threshold. The differences in fatigue crack growth rate and fatigue threshold resulting from test procedure and growth rate history were significantly reduced by employing the effective stress intensity concept.     

超细晶纯钛疲劳裂纹的扩展行为

对纯钛进行2道次室温等径弯曲通道变形(ECAP)、等径弯曲通道变形加旋锻复合变形(ECAP+RS)并在旋锻后在300℃和400℃退火1 h,制备出4种具有不同组织的超细晶纯钛。对这4种超细晶纯钛进行疲劳裂纹扩展实验并观察分析超细晶纯钛的显微组织和疲劳断口的形貌,研究了裂纹的扩展行为。结果表明：显微组织对超细晶纯钛的疲劳裂纹扩展门槛值和近门槛区有显著的影响;超细晶纯钛的疲劳裂纹扩展门槛值随着塑性变形量的增大而增大,随着旋锻后退火温度的提高而降低;疲劳裂纹扩展速率曲线因超细晶纯钛晶粒尺寸和强度的影响出现转折,转折前ECAP+RS复合变形纯钛的抗疲劳裂纹扩展能力比ECAP变形强,且随着退火温度的提高而降低;转折后4种超细晶纯钛的疲劳裂纹扩展速率相差较小,呈现出相反的结果。疲劳裂纹扩展寿命中转折前近门槛区裂纹扩展寿命占绝大部分,因而转折前的门槛值与近门槛区的扩展速率对抗裂纹扩展能力更为重要。