PROPAGATION AND CLOSURE OF SHORT FATIGUE CRACKS AT NOTCHES UNDER COMPRESSIVE MEAN STRESSES

Abstract— Single-edge-notched specimens of a low-carbon steel were fatigued under cyclic in-plane bending with compressive mean stresses. The development of crack closure with crack growth was studied both experimentally and theoretically. The relation between the crack opening stress and the crack length was a function of the minimum (compressive) applied stress, irrespective of the maximum stress. The effective stress intensity range was a unique parameter in correlating the crack growth rate, even if the crack was embedded in the compressive plastic zone. Under a constant minimum stress, the length of nonpropagating cracks became longer with increasing maximum applied stress. A theoretical model was proposed for predicting the crack opening stress on the basis of the compressive stress distribution at the minimum applied stress. The predicted value agreed fairly well with the experimental result. The model gave upper bounds of the crack growth rate and the length of nonpropagating fatigue cracks within the plastic zone.     

INITIATION AND PROPAGATION OF SHORT FATIGUE CRACKS IN A WELD METAL

Abstract— Fatigue tests were performed using a purpose designed triangular shaped specimen to investigate the initiation and propagation of short fatigue cracks in a weld metal. It was observed that short fatigue cracks evolved from slip bands and were predominantly within ferrite grains. As the test progressed, the short crack density increased with minor changes in crack length. The growth of short cracks, in the early stage resulted mainly from coalescence with other existing cracks. The mechanism of short crack behaviour is discussed.     

ELASTIC-PLASTIC FRACTURE MECHANICS FOR INITIATION AND PROPAGATION OF NOTCH FATIGUE CRACKS

Abstract Initiation and propagation are considered to be controlled by the extent of total plastic shear deformation φ. Crack initiation and crack propagation occur when φ, exceeds a critical threshold value which can be equated to threshold conditions determined from linear elastic fracture mechanics analyses. When a crack is in a plastically deformed zone φ_t=φ _p +φ _e . where φ _p is the component of φ _t due to notch bulk plasticity and φ _e , is the component of φ _t due to a linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) analysis of the crack tip plasticity field.
When cracks initiate at notch roots φ _t > φ_th. As the crack propagates in the notch plastic zone the rate of decrease of v _p will be different from the rate of increase of φ _e and it is possible for φ _t to decrease to a level below φ_th thereby creating a non-propagating crack.     

PROPAGATION BEHAVIOUR OF SHORT FATIGUE CRACKS IN Q2N STEEL

Abstract— The work described in this paper characterizes short fatigue crack growth behaviour of Q2N steel having a complex microstructure and designated for pressure vessel and offshore structure applications. Short and long fatigue crack growth tests for this steel were conducted under three point bend loading conditions. It was found that, in the initial stages of growth, short cracks propagate much faster than those of long cracks when correlated with the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) parameter Δ K. A period of crack growth retardation was observed at crack lengths of approx 50 μm. The theory of the interaction between short cracks and grain boundaries fails to predict the occurrence of this deceleration minima. A new short crack deceleration mechanism is proposed based on experimental observation. Observation of the characteristic behaviour of short cracks allowed the development of a short crack growth model based on microstructural fracture mechanics analyses.     

FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION BEHAVIOUR OF SHORT CRACKS; THE EFFECT OF MICROSTRUCTURE

–Fatigue cracks shorter than some critical length tend to propagate anomalously quickly. This paper examines the concept of a ‘critical length’, identifying three regimes of behaviour for different crack lengths. Some published work is examined, covering a wide range of different materials. It is concluded that there is an approximate correlation between the critical length for short crack behaviour and the scale of the microstructure. LEFM is difficult, if not impossible, to apply to cracks shorter than this critical length because the material surrounding a crack cannot be assumed to approximate to a homogeneous continuum. Suggestions are made for a fatigue design philosophy which incorporates short crack behaviour.     

THE INITIATION AND PROPAGATION BEHAVIOUR OF SHORT FATIGUE CRACKS IN WASPALOY SUBJECTED TO BENDING

The fatigue crack growth behaviour of a nickel base superalloy, Waspaloy, has been studied using four point bending specimens in laboratory air. Two groups of tests, for which the span/width ratios were 1 and 2.5, were conducted and the results compared. Surface crack lengths were measured from plastic replicas of the surface. Equations which describe both short and long cracks have been derived and used to predict the fatigue life for the Waspaloy specimens. From plastic replication studies and scanning electron microscope examinations, a physical understanding of the relationship between crack growth and microstructural features was enhanced.     

THE NUCLEATION AND GROWTH OF SHORT FATIGUE CRACKS BOTH AT PLAIN SURFACES AND NOTCHES

Abstract— The problem of the nucleation and growth of short fatigue cracks is addressed from an energetic point of view. It is explained that vanishingly small cracks can only nucleate and grow at the expense of the release of some locally stored energy during the fatigue deformation. This is necessary because an external loading system alone cannot provide a positive driving force for the growth of a crack whose length is below a critical value. The concept of the local driving force is used to explain the nucleation and growth of short fatigue cracks both at plain surfaces and at notches. With this approach a meaningful definition can be given of a "short fatigue crack" and a sound physical interpretation of the Kitagawa-Takahashi plots is provided. The conditions for the existence of non-propagating cracks are clearly established and the relationship between the stress concentration factor at the root of notches and the fatigue limit is explained. The paper sets up a physical framework for the sound understanding and treatment of short fatigue cracks and the microstructural parameters which control their growth.     

LOW CYCLE FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION AT A NOTCH UNDER PULSATING LOAD

Abstract Fatigue crack propagation tests were carried out under pulsating stress, partly alternating stress and alternating plastic fatigue for Cr- Mo-V steel and mild steel. Although stress and strain intensity factors do not effectively correlate the fatigue crack growth rate over a wide range of stress and strain conditions, a normalized fatigue crack growth rate [(d a /d N )/ a ] is related to the strain range. The fatigue crack propagation behavior at a notch under pulsating load is analyzed with the above relation by considering the cyclic elastic- plastic condition at the notch.     

THE PROPAGATION OF NON-COPLANAR SEMI-ELLIPTICAL FATIGUE CRACKS

Abstract— The results of fatigue tests on specimens containing parallel offset and parallel collinear configurations of multiple non-coplanar cracks are presented. The fatigue growth of parallel collinear cracks is shown to be significantly affected by crack-tip shielding and parallel offset cracks are shown to grow almost independently before their adjacent tips overlap. Subsequent growth in the region of overlap results in coalescence which begins when the deviating crack tips come into contact below the surfaces of the specimens. Simplified predictions of the propagation of offset non-coplanar semi-elliptical cracks are also presented and their implications for the prediction of fatigue lives in structures containing offset coplanar cracks are assessed.     

CONVERSION OF SHORT FATIGUE CRACKS INTO A LONG CRACK

This paper presents a method for the statistical processing of results of initiation and propagation of short fatigue cracks. The distribution of the lengths of these cracks followed a Weibull distribution function. The value of the size parameter of this distribution grows with the number of cycles, but the value of the shape parameter declines as the number of cycles increases. A study of the modal value of fatigue crack lengths as a function of the number of cycles yielded a statistical criterion defining the conversion of the short fatigue crack initiation and propagation stage into the long fatigue crack propagation stage. One condition for this conversion is a zero magnitude of the first derivative of the modal value of fatigue crack lengths by the number of cycles. When the dependence of the Weibull distribution shape parameter and size parameter upon the number of cycles was inserted in this condition, solution of the resultant expression revealed the critical number of cycles that is necessary for the formation of a long fatigue crack.     

PROPAGATION OF FATIGUE CRACKS UNDER POLYMODAL LOADING

Abstract— The influence of steady mode III on mode I fatigue growth behavior is investigated in four materials–a plain carbon steel, a Ni–Cr–Mo–V rotor steel, and titanium alloys, TA6V and TA5E ELI. It is shown that these loading conditions give rise to two main effects: (i) a strong reduction in propagation rate and (ii) a modification in crack path, the fatigue crack adopting a characteristic "factory-roof' aspect. In 2024 Al alloy, it is shown that the superimposition of steady mode II to cyclic mode I leads to crack bifurcation, the angle θ being a function of K _a/ K _tmax. These observations are discussed in the light of a new criterion which is introduced. This criterion is based on two main assumptions: (i) Fatigue cracking is assumed to occur only under the effect of local mode I opening. (ii) It is postulated that a fatigue crack grows in a direction where the crack propagation rate is maximum. A number of limitations of this approach, associated with crack closure phenomenon, are discussed.     

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CRACK TIP DEFORMATION FOR SHORT AND LONG FATIGUE CRACKS

Abstract— The behaviour of physical short mode I cracks under constant amplitude cyclic loading was investigated both numerically and experimentally. A dynamic two-dimensional elastic-plastic finite element technique was utilised to simulate cyclic crack tip plastic deformation. Different idealisations were investigated. Both stationary and artificially advanced long and short cracks were analysed. A parameter which characterises the plastically deformed crack tip zone, the strain field generated within that zone and the opening and closure of the crack tip were considered. The growth of physically short mode I cracks under constant amplitude fully reversed fatigue loading was investigated experimentally using conventional cast steel EN-9 specimens. Based on a numerical analysis, a crack tip deformation parameter was devised to correlate fatigue crack propagation rates.     

缺口状态对SiC/LY12复合材料短裂纹疲劳行为的影响

研究了峰值时效状态下SiC/LY12复合材料及LY12铝合金不同缺口状态下的短裂纹扩展行为,结果表明:在尖缺口及钝缺口状态下,短裂纹扩展均表现出“马鞍”型特征;尖缺口下,SiC不利于材料疲劳性能,钝缺口下,Sic有利于材料疲劳性能;用闭合效应和缺口根部塑性区大小解释了缺口状态对短裂纹扩展的影响.     

EFFECT OF NOTCH STRESS FIELD AND CRACK CLOSURE ON SHORT FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH

Abstract— The growth rate of a short fatigue crack that is partly or wholly embedded within the notch plastic zone, is affected by the extent and intensity of the elastic-plastic notch stress field and closure effect. The notch stress—strain field and plastic zone were analysed by the Finite Element Method (FEM). The growth rate and the closure curve for a short fatigue crack emanating from the notch root were measured. Based on the experimental and numerical analyses, a modified Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) parameter is proposed for a short through-thickness crack emanating from a notch root under elastic—plastic loading conditions.