FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION CHARACTERISTICS OF GLASS FIBRE REINFORCED POLYCARBONATE IN HOT DISTILLED WATER

The fatigue crack propagation behaviour of polycarbonate and glass fibre reinforced polycarbonate was studied in hot distilled water. The effects of temperature, distilled water and glass fibre content on fatigue crack growth rate were determined. In distilled water at 333 K, the fatigue crack growth rate decreased with increasing glass fibre content. A melting was observed of the adhesive bond between the glass fibres and the matrix. It was evident that the fracture morphology closely relates to the fatigue crack growth rate which depends on the ΔK parameter rather than the K_max parameter when the materials are tested in hot distilled water.     

CRACK CLOSURE AND PLASTIC ZONE SIZES IN FATIGUE

Abstract— An elastic-plastic finite element simulation of growing fatigue cracks which accounts for plasticity-induced crack closure is used to study the size of the forward and reversed plastic zones at the crack tip. Forward plastic zone widths for fatigue cracks and stationary, monotonically loaded cracks are compared and found to be similar. The width of the forward plastic zone at the tip of a fatigue crack is not significantly influenced by closure. The traditional Irwin-Rice estimate for crack tip plastic zone size in plane stress is found to be generally consistent with the finite element results. The width of the reversed plastic zone at the tip of a growing fatigue crack in plane stress is found to be considerably less than one-fourth the size of the forward plastic zone, the traditional Rice estimate. This decrease appears to be due to fatigue crack closure. A simple model is developed which permits estimation of the reversed plastic zone size for any stress ratio from information about maximum and minimum stresses and the closure stress. The predictions of this model agree closely with plastic zone sizes calculated by the finite element analysis. These observations appear to be consistent with experimental measurements of forward and reversed plastic zones sizes reported in the literature.     

ON THE OVERLOAD INDUCED FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION BEHAVIOR IN ALUMINUM AND STEEL ALLOYS

The overload induced fatigue crack propagation behavior of several aluminum and steel alloys was examined as a function of the baseline stress intensity factor range (δ K _b). In order to gain a clearer understanding of the parameters which influence the cyclic delay phenomenon, under both plane strain and plane stress conditions, tests were conducted at δ K _b values ranging from the near threshold regime to high δ K levels approaching fast fracture. Large amounts of overload induced cyclic delay (˜100,000 cycles) were observed at both high and low δ K levels (provided the plastic zone size/thickness ratio and plastic zone size/grain size ratio approached unity, respectively) with significantly less delay occurring at intermediate δ K values. All alloys examined exhibited this type of delay behavior which can be described by a "U-shaped" plot. The delay phenomenon at high δ K _b levels under plane stress conditions was attributed to increased crack closure associated with large tensile displacements in the wake of the advancing crack. At low δ K _b levels increasing cyclic delay was attributed to an increased effective overload ratio as δ K approached δ K _th.     

EVALUATION OF FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION PROPERTIES UNDER RANDOM LOADING AVOIDING CRACK CLOSURE

Abstract— Fatigue crack propagation rates and the fatigue threshold of HT80 steel were measured by maintaining the maximum load during the whole period of random loading in order to prevent fatigue crack closure. The random loading pattern involved 62 level block loadings in which the waveform was approximated to the Rayleigh distribution of peaks. The fatigue crack propagation rates under random loading were well predicted from those obtained from constant amplitude loading and assuming a linear cumulative damage law. That is, da/dn = C {Δ K ^m_eq−Δ K ^m_th} where the equivalent stress intensity factor, Δ K _eq={= n _iΔ K ^m_i/d n _i}^{1/ m} , where n_i = 0 for Δ K _i≤Δ K _th, or n_i = n_i for Δ K_i > Δ K _th.     

NEAR-THRESHOLD FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH AND CRACK CLOSURE IN A NODULAR CAST IRON

Abstract— Near-threshold fatigue crack growth and crack closure were investigated in a nodular cast iron. Fracture surface roughness was promoted by spheroidal graphites. The spheroidal graphites are partially crushed to form powder which accumulates within the crack and thus enhance crack closure. The marked influence of stress ratio on near-threshold crack growth is due to graphite-induced crack closure. When the contribution of graphite-induced crack closure is excluded, the crack growth characteristics are insensitive to stress ratio, and the threshold behaviour for crack growth tends to disappear. In this case, Young's modulus becomes a controlling material parameter for the power law relationship between crack growth rate and stress intensity range.     

SHORT CRACK PROPAGATION AND CLOSURE EFFECTS IN A508 STEEL

Abstract— Fatigue crack growth measurements are usually made on standard specimens containing long cracks (～10 mm) although in most practical situations, a large part of the fatigue life is spent with much shorter dimensions. The purpose of the present study is a comparison of crack growth behaviour for long cracks (～13–16 mm) in CT specimens and smaller ones (～0.3–0.5 mm) in four point bend specimens. Large effects are noticed indicating that, at a given stress intensity factor amplitude, the crack growth rate is significantly higher in specimens with short cracks. Mouth displacement measurements for both specimen configurations show that the crack closure phenomenon accounts for the observed effect. Crack closure is likely to be associated with fracture surface roughness as shown by partly machining the material left behind the crack tip in CT specimens.     

CYCLIC FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH AND CLOSURE BEHAVIOUR IN ALUMINA CERAMICS

Cyclic fatigue crack growth behaviour in alumina ceramics is investigated and the effect of grain size discussed. Special attention is given to crack closure effects. Cyclic fatigue tests were carried out using four-point bend specimens, and the load–strain and load–differential strain curves were monitored. These curves show hysteretic behaviour probably related to frictional sliding of bridging grains, and also include non-linearities due to crack closure. The crack opening load is determined from the load–differential strain curve by using a method introduced in this study. Growth rates can be successfully described by the relationship da/dN = C[ΔK_{eff /(1 ? Kmax /KIC )]m} which is proposed in this study to account for the effects of crack closure and the maximum stress intensity factor. Irrespective of grain size, growth rates can be well represented by the above relationship, implying that the grain size exerts an influence on growth rates not only because of crack closure behaviour but also the material fracture toughness. The growth rate curve based on the proposed relationship shows a sigmoidal form for ceramic materials, which is similar to metals.     

A FATIGUE CRACK CLOSURE MECHANISM IN TITANIUM

Abstract— Fatigue crack closure in commercial titanium has been investigated by examining the crack profile using a two-stage replica technique and by monitoring the crack raouth opening displacement. The replicas show that when closure occurs the crack does not close back from the crack tip but at discrete contact points along the crack faces. The observed closure mechanism is therefore quite different from the generally accepted model. Assuming that the contact points wedge the crack open, the stress intensity at the minimum load is greater than expected and the range of the stress intensity is effectively reduced. Also, it was found that the crack growth rates measured in the range 0·05 ≦ R ≦ 0·7 showed a singular dependence on the parameter Δθ which for SEN specimens approximates to the change in angle subtended by the crack faces. It is therefore suggested that there is a direct link between Δθ and the effective stress intensity amplitude.     

SCATTER IN SMALL CRACK PROPAGATION AND FATIGUE BEHAVIOUR IN CARBON STEELS

In order to investigate the physical basis of scatter in fatigue behaviour, rotatory bending of smooth fatigue specimens was carried out using two steels with different microstructures (ferrite/pearlite and tempered martensite). Fifteen or sixteen specimens were fatigued at each stress, and the initiation and propagation behaviour of a crack which led to the final fracture were examined for all the specimens. The emphasis was to investigate the scatter characteristics of fatigue behaviour based on the scatter of small crack propagation data. The data were analysed by assuming the Weibull distribution, and a statistical investigation of the physical basis of scatter was performed, i.e. the distributions for fatigue life, crack propagation life and growth rate of small cracks were established and the relation between the scatter in those distributions was studied.     

GEOMETRY FACTORS IN CORROSION FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION

Abstract— Fatigue crack growth rates for a steel in saltwater at different but constant stress intensity factor ranges have been evaluated as a function of the crack length (as measured from the notch root) for cracks longer than so-called "short" cracks. Equations describing the crack growth rate as a function of both the crack length and the stress intensity factor range have been obtained, and the effect of simulated infinite thickness of the specimens is discussed. The equations satisfactorily describe the numerous literature data for different steels, different specimens and different test conditions.     

INTRINSIC MATERIAL SCATTER IN FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION

The statistical nature of fatigue crack growth rate has been examined for G41400 steel exposed to different heat treatments and for different loading and environmental conditions. Techniques for determining the intrinsic value of the crack propagation rate are discussed. The intrinsic scatter due to the material has been evaluated and considered in terms of its effect on fatigue life prediction, both normal and log normal distributions of fatigue crack growth data being considered. It appears that the intrinsic material scatter in crack propagation rate is closely related to the scatter in total life.     

FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION IN BIAXIAL STRESS FIELDS

Abstract Biaxial tension-compression fatigue tests were conducted with cruciform shaped specimens in a closed-loop servo hydraulic testing machine. The effects of static and cyclic non-singular stresses acting parallel to the crack plane on the crack growth rate are discussed based on the experimental observations of crack opening behaviour and fractography. Those non-singular stresses did affect the growth rate significantly under certain conditions. The range of crack-tip opening displacement was found to be a better parameter in correlating the growth rate than the stress intensity range or its effective range. The rate tended to increase with increasing non-singular stress which is correlated to the opening displacement range. This tendency was explained by the shift of fracture mechanisms to a more brittle type due to a higher elevation of hydrostatic stress near the crack tip for the case of a larger non-singular stress term.     

CRACK CLOSURE AND FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH RATE IN THREE POINT BEND SPECIMENS OF DIFFERENT WIDTHS

Abstract— The crack closure stress intensity factor values and fatigue crack growth rates were determined in Three Point Single Edge Bend, SE(B), specimens prepared from rails manufactured using two different grades of rail steels. The width, and correspondingly the span, of the SE(B) specimens were varied eight fold; the thickness of all the specimens being the same. It is observed that the crack closure stress intensity factor values decrease with an increase in the width of SE(B) specimens. At a given value of Δ K _eff, the fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) is independent of the width. However, at a given value of Δ K _eff, the FCGR is observed to decrease with increasing width. In view of the above results, the scope of application of the FCGR laws based on an effective stress intensity factor to the life prediction of components, requires careful examination.     

UNSTABLE FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION AND FATIGUE FRACTURE TOUGHNESS OF STEELS

This paper presents the results of fatigue crack growth and fatigue fracture toughness studies of a high-pressure vessel steel with particular emphasis on the influence of heat treatment, low temperatures, plastic prestraining, the stress ratio and specimen dimensions. It has been shown that steels in an embrittled state, caused primarily by thermal treatment and low-temperatures, exhibit unstable fatigue crack growth which is characterized by alternate crack jumps (cleavage zones) and zones of fatigue crack growth. The fatigue fracture toughness, which corresponds to the first crack jump, and final fracture can be appreciably lower (i.e. up to 50%) than the static fracture toughness under plane strain conditions at the corresponding temperature. An analysis has been performed of unstable and stable fatigue crack growth and a model of unstable crack propagation is proposed which accounts for the observed experimental behaviour.     

残余应力场中疲劳裂纹的闭合作用

疲劳裂纹在残余压应力场中的扩展可藉助于裂纹闭合力来描述。采用板状试样相变温度下急冷以获得长程残余压应力场。应用动态测定法可同时测得裂纹闭合力和扩展速率。结果表明,残余压应力的最大值位置与扩展速率的最低值和闭合力的峰值所对应的裂纹长度基本相同。可以认为残余压应力提高了裂纹的闭合力,它使最小有效应力强度因子 K_(eff min)升高,从而减小了裂纹的扩展驱动力△K_(eff),这是裂纹扩展速率降低的主要原因。     

FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION OF SINTERED SILICON NITRIDE IN VACUUM AND AIR

Abstract— Static and cyclic fatigue in vacuum and air have been investigated for pressureless sintered silicon nitride. Cyclic crack propagation occurred even in vacuum where environmental effects are negligible. Hence such damage is attributed to pure mechanical fatigue unaffected by environment. Crack growth occurs in air even below K _ISCC and the growth rate is higher than in vacuum. Therefore, it is believed that cyclic crack growth in air is accelerated by stress corrosion cracking for a wide range of K _max values.     

FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH AND CLOSURE AT HIGH STRESS RATIOS

Abstract— Fatigue crack growth tests have been carried out on a medium carbon structural steel over a wide range of stress ratios, i.e. from 0 to 0.7. All tests were conducted under constant amplitude loading conditions corresponding to growth rates in the Paris regime. Crack closure behaviour was observed experimentally by a surface strain gauge technique, and numerically by a finite element analysis under plane stress condition. While the crack closure could not be detected by experimental measurements at stress ratios equal to or greater than 0.5, the numerical results showed that closure occurred even at high stress ratios up to 0.7. The differences between experimentally and numerically determined crack opening levels were found for each stress ratio. A cause for these differences is discussed. In addition, two new types of crack tip parameters which have been proposed recently are evaluated by finite element analysis and their relevance to fatigue crack growth are discussed. It is concluded that fatigue crack growth rates are substantially determined by the effective stress intensity factor range which is based on the crack closure concept.     

几种生物陶瓷材料的裂纹扩展特性

采用破坏力学中的双扭矩实验法，研究了玻璃陶瓷、云母陶瓷、氧化铝陶瓷、氧化锆陶瓷材料分别在大气、水环境中的静负荷和循环负荷下的裂纹扩展特征，阐明了水环境和循环负荷对材料裂纹扩展特性（KI－V特征）的影响。所研究的材料在水环境下的裂纹扩展速度均加快，但玻璃陶瓷和氧化锆陶瓷材料更为明显。在静负荷下这几种材料的裂纹扩展阻力由小到大的次序为：玻璃陶瓷（N－0），玻璃陶瓷（N－11），云母陶瓷，氧化锆陶瓷和氧化铝陶瓷，对于氧化铝和氧化锆陶瓷材料在循环负荷下的裂纹扩展速度均明显加快。     

FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION IN A CAST MAGNESIUM ALLOY

Abstract— Fatigue crack propagation behaviour in a cast Mg-Al-Zn alloy was examined. The fatigue crack growth rate of the alloy under constant amplitude loading and the threshold resulting from a number of tests are given. Delayed retardation after the application of a single tension overload is explored in detail and described by using the model proposed by Matsuoka and Tanaka. From these observations, it may be seen that the Matsuoka model can be applied to the cast magnesium alloy as well as steels and aluminium alloys. Changes in the extent of retadation and the overload affected zone size with respect to the ratio of peak-to-baseline stress intensity factor range are discussed. Two phenomena, delayed arrest and acceleration in the later stages of retardation are reported.