Mode III fatigue crack propagation in low alloy steel

To provide a basis for estimating fatigue life in large rotating generator shafts subjected to transient oscillations, a study is made of fatigue crack propagation in Mode III (anti-plane shear) in torsionally-loaded spheroidized AISI4340 steel, and results compared to analogous behavior in Mode I. Torsional S/N curves, determined on smooth bars containing surface defects, showed results surprisingly close to expected unnotched Mode I data, with lifetime increasing from 10⁴ cycles at nominal yield to 10⁶ cycles at half yield. Fatigue crack growth rates in Mode III, measured on circumferentially-notched samples, were found to be slower than in Mode I, although still power-law related to the alternating stress intensity(△K _III) for small-scale yielding. Mode III growth rates were only a small fraction (0.002 to 0.0005) of cyclic crack tip displacements(△CTD _III) per cycle, in contrast to Mode I where the fraction was much larger (0.1 to 0.01). A micromechanical model for Mode III growth is proposed, where crack advance is considered to take place by a Mode II coalescence of cracks, initiated at inclusions ahead of the main crack front. This mechanism is consistent with the crack increment being a small fraction of △CTD_III per cycle. Formerly with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA Formerly with M.I. T.     

Effects of microstructure on fatigue crack initiation and propagation of 16Mn steel

In the present study, the effect of microstructure of 16Mn steel on fatigue crack initiation (FCI) life and fatigue crack propagation (FCP) rates was experimentally investigated under two different conditions,i.e., as-received condition and high-temperature normalized (H.T.N.) condition. The microstructure of 16Mn steel under the as-received condition is ferrite and pearlite, which corresponds to that of the base metal of welded elements, and the microstructure under the H.T.N. condition is mainly coarse Widmanstätten structure, which can be thought of as the simulated microstructure at the weld toe. The fatigue test results show that the high-temperature normalization results in the increase of FCP rates in near-threshold region and the decrease of both FCI and FCP thresholds, and FCI life of 16Mn steel. Little effect of the microstructure is observed on the FCP mechanism in the intermediate range (da/dN=10^?8 to 10^?6 m/cycle). Based on the test results and analysis, the general expressions are given for both FCI life and FCP rates under the two conditions. It is pointed out that which of the test results should be applied to prediction of FCI life and FCP life depends upon the FCI location and FCP path in the welded elements.     

Effect of hydrogen on fatigue crack propagation in vanadium

The influence of hydrogen on fatigue crack propagation in unalloyed vanadium and several hydrogen-charged vanadium alloys has been investigated. The Paris-Erdogan equation,da/dN =C(Δ.K)^m, was approximately obeyed for all alloys. Crack growth rates were lowest in vanadium and dilute vanadium-hydrogen alloys, and were not very sensitive to volume fraction of hydrides in more concentrated alloys. The crack growth exponent,m, is inversely proportional to the cyclic strain hardening rate,n′, and the rate constantC is inversely proportional to the square of the ultimate tensile stress, σ_UTS: Metallographic examination showed hydride reorientation and growth in the originally hydrided alloys. No stress-induced hydrides were observed in V-H solid-solution alloys. Fractures in hydrided materials exhibited cleavage-like features, while striations were noted in unalloyed vanadium and dilute solid-solution alloys.     

Effect of thermomechanical processing on fatigue crack propagation

The effect of thermomechanical processing on fatigue crack propagation (FCP) is examined for 70/30 brass and 305 stainless steel. It is found that grain size and cold work induced changes in yield strength, ductility, and preferred orientation have a minor effect on FCP. Rather, cyclically stabilized properties of material in the crack tip plastic zone are believed to control the FCP process. Although mechanical processing fails to significantly alter the rate of FCP, it is apparently responsible for the unique fracture path observed in specimens oriented at an angle(A) to the rolling direction. Deviation of the crack path out of the plane of maximum net section stress is believed to be associated with mechanical fibering andJor crystallographic texturing effects. The complex fracture mode transition observed in cold worked 70/30 brass also is associated with the deformation texture of the starting material. For the cold-worked 305 stainless steel, striation spacings are correlated with the stress intensity range for specimens tested in the longitudinal, transverse, and “angle” orientations. Comparison of these data with corresponding macroscopic data indicate that an approximately one-to-one correspondence exists between macroscopic and microscopic fatigue crack growth rates over the range investigated.     

Environmentally assisted fatigue crack propagation in steel

The influence of various gasenous environments on fatigue crack propagation has been determined for three quenched and tempered steels with yield strength levels of 800 to 1400 MN/m². The crack growth rate was increased by an order of magnitude in low pressure (13 KPa) hydrogen, and by a factor of two in most mildly aggressive environments relative to the growth rate in vacuum. The gases oxygen, acetylene, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxide were dominant in a combined environment with hydrogen while methane and carbon dioxide had only a small effect on crack propagation when added to hydrogen. The crack propagation in acetylene was intermediate between that in hydrogen and the mildly aggressive environments. The increase in fatigue crack propagation rate in the hydrogen environment was dependent on the temperature and the cyclic stress intensity. The fracture mode was transgranular for all conditions except the hydrogen influenced HP-9-4-20 fractures. These results are discussed relative to various stages of the hydrogen embrittlement mechanisms. In pacticular, the results are discussed with respect to the adsorption-dissociation of the environment, transport of the gaseous specie within the plasticly deformed zone by mobile dislocations and interaction with segregated impurities within the metal. H. L. MARCUS, formerly with Science center, Rockwell International, Thousand Oaks, CA     

Frequency dependent low cycle fatigue crack propagation

The frequency modified Coffin-Manson low cycle fatigue expression phenomenologically describes the influence of the cycling frequency on the fatigue life. This expression relates only to the fatigue life and as such does not enable the separation of the frequency influence on crack nucleation from that on propagation. The approach taken here was to study directly the propagation phase of low cycle fatigue and to this end a frequency modified crack growth expression is presented. The experiments reported here were performed on A286 (an iron-base superalloy) cycled at 1100°F with plastic strain limits. The influence of the cycling frequency is described in terms of two frequency regimes. At the lowest frequencies (below 0.05 cpm) varying the frequency did not change the time to failure. The crack growth rate is thus more a result of stress rupture than fatigue. At higher frequencies both time and cycles determine the crack propagation behavior.     

轧辊材料疲劳裂纹扩展理论计算与分析

辊面剥落是轧辊失效的主要形式之一。依据疲劳裂纹扩展理论,计算了轧辊材料裂纹扩展过程中裂纹扩展速率与应力强度因子幅的关系即da/d N—ΔK,分析了各因素对裂纹扩展速率的影响以及不同轧辊的裂纹扩展特征。结果表明,弹性模量、应力比、残余应力、晶粒度、断裂塑性、工作应力、断裂强度等对轧辊裂纹扩展速率的影响越来越不明显,弹性模量影响最大,而屈强比几乎没有影响;轧辊材料较高的弹性模量、较低的残余应力、较粗大的晶粒、较高的断裂塑性可以有效抑制轧辊裂纹的疲劳扩展;轧辊工作层比心部、支承辊比工作辊、锻钢辊比铸铁辊具有更高的耐裂纹扩展断裂能力。结果有助于分析轧辊失效机理并采取有效措施,防止轧辊剥落。     

Mechanisms of corrosion fatigue crack propagation in Al-Zn-Mg alloys

Corrosion fatigue crack propagation tests were performed on commercial 7075 alloys. Testing was done in a 3.5 pct sodium chloride solution under constant impressed potential and under reversed anodic-cathodic current conditions. Results indicated that a cathodic potential of -1.400 V vs SCE was sufficient to reduce corrosion fatigue crack growth rates to the level observed in dry argon. By alternately impressing anodic and cathodic currents, it was shown that anodic potentials enhance the crystallographic dependence of the fracture mode, resulting in brittle striations, while cathodic potentials result in ductile striations formed by shear. Modification of the alloy chemistry and lower impurity content resulted in a two-fold reduction in crack growth rates. Thermomechanical treatment of these alloys to refine the grain size proved detrimental. Adding an inhibitor to the sodium chloride solution was found to be the most effective means for reducing corrosion fatigue crack growth rates. A model for the environment-surface interaction is suggested.     

The effect of microstructure on fatigue crack propagation in iron-carbon alloys

The dependence of fatigue crack growth rate on the cyclic stress intensity factor was determined for six iron-carbon alloys ranging in carbon content from 0.23 to 1.08 wt pct carbon. Both ferrite/pearlite and ferrite/free iron carbide microstructures were studied. Scanning electron microscope fractography studies correlated the fatigue mechanism with microstructure. It was found that when the predominant mode of crack growth was ductile, the crack growth rateda/dN could be related to the cyclic stress intensity factor ΔK by an equation of the formda/dN = (ΔK)_m where andm are constants. The constantm was approximately equal to four when the crack growth mechanism presumably was the blunting and resharpening of the crack tip by slip processes. The constantm was greater than four when the crack growth mechanism was void coalescence in the interlamella ferrite of pearlite colonies. The preferred fatigue crack path through the pearlitic alloys was through the free ferrite phase. formerly Research Assistant at Materials Science and Engineering Department and Materials Research Center, Northwestern University.     

The effects of temperature on fatigue crack propagation in linepipe steel

Fatigue crack propagation rates in an A.P.I. 5L Grade steel were investigated by means of constant deflection amplitude bending fatigue tests at 640 c.p.m. on single edge notched specimens at — 50, — 10, 20 and 70°C in argon. The data were evaluated in terms of the crack propagation rate (da/dN) as a function of the stress intensity range (Δ/K), according toda/dN = ΔK ^m . It was found that dynamic strain aging has a major influence on fatigue crack propagation, resulting in a maximum of the crack propagation rate at room temperature. Similarly, the cyclic plastic zone size is a maximum at room temperature. D. H. Andreasen, formerly with the Department of Mining and Metallurgy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.     

The effects of residual macrostresses and microstresses on fatigue crack propagation

The effects of residual microstresses and tensile residual macrostresses on fatigue crack propagation (FCP) are examined in a high-carbon steel. Phase-specific diffraction measurements show that uniaxial deformation and radial cold expansion produce predominantly microstress and tensile macrostress fields, respectively. Microstresses are found to have little effect on FCP rates, while tensile macrostresses increase crack growth rates in a manner that depends systematically on ΔK. The increases are partly attributed to crack closure, which was found to be appreciable near the surface of control samples but absent in the presence of tensile residual stresses. Both the ΔK dependence and absence of microstress effects were explored by X-ray microbeam measurements around propagating fatigue cracks and found to stem from fading and/or redistribution of residual macrostresses and microstresses during fatigue crack growth.     

Effects of load ratio and temperature on the near-threshold fatigue crack propagation behavior in a CrMoV steel

The influence of temperature in the range of 24 to 260 °C and load ratio on the near-threshold fatigue crack growth rate behavior of a CrMoV steel was characterized. At all temperatures investigated, the threshold stress intensity range, ΔK _th, for fatigue crack growth decreased with increasing load ratio. The near-threshold crack growth rates increased significantly at 149 °C when compared with the rates at room temperature. However, the crack growth rates at 260 °C were comparable to those at 149 °C. These observations are rationalized in terms of the concepts of roughness and oxide-induced crack closure. Extensive fracture surface characterization using SEM, oxide thickness measurements by Auger spectroscopy, and roughness measurements by light-section-microscopy were conducted to substantiate the explanations.     

A mean stress function for fatigue crack propagation

Abstract

A stress function providing for the effect of mean stress is proposed as a con trolling parameter for fatigue crack propagation. The function is defined by the product of maximum stress and stress amplitude, which is a derivative form for the elastic case of a general stress-strain parameter (product of maximum stress and strain amplitude) recently suggested for small smooth specimens. Variable mean stress data for aluminum, titanium and steel are successfully correlated using the proposed function.

Résumé

L'auteur propose, comme paramétre contrôlant la propagation des fissures de fatigue, une fonction de la contrainte inc1uant l'effet de la contrainte moyenne. Cette fonction est le produit de la contrainte maximale et de l'amplitude de la contrainte, et est une forme dérivée du cas élastique où un paramétre général contrainte-déformation (produit de la contrainte maximale par l'amplitude de la déformation) a été récemment proposé pour de petits spécimens lisses. Les résultants expérimentaux obtenus pour l'aluminium, le titane et l'acier vérifient la fonction proposée.     

Plastic work of fatigue crack propagation in steels and aluminum alloys

The plastic work per unit area of fatigue crack propagation,U, is one of the parameters controlling the rate of fatigue crack propagation,dc/dN. The equation,dc/dN = A ΔK ⁴/(σf_y ²μ U), was previously shown to fit the data for 7 iron and aluminum base alloys for the range of thedc/dN vs ΔK curve where the Paris relation is valid. Values ofU are now available for 6 additional alloys covering a much wider range of σ_y 42 to 868 MN/m². For the total populationA = (2.8 ± 0.9) X 10^-3 where 2.8 is the mean and 0.9 is the standard deviation. In this equation, σ_y is the 0.2 pct offset cyclic yield stress and μ is the shear modulus. The parameterU is related to microstructure and should be of interest to the metallurgist. Generally,U varies oppositely to σ_y due to decrease in the plastic zone size; however, the plastic strain amplitude and degree of localization of the plastic strain in the plastic zone are also important.     

The role of mechanical properties in low-stress fatigue crack propagation

An experimental investigation was undertaken to study the relationship between mechanical properties and low stress fatigue crack propagation. Attention was focused on the “fatigue” or “reversed plastic zone” at the crack tip, since it was felt that material properties in this region were of prime importance in the crack propagation process. An effort was made to simulate this region through fully reversed strain-cycling tests on tensile specimens. Mechanical properties obtained from a number of materials before and after strain cycling were correlated with crack propagation data from the same materials. Evidence indicated that while monotonic tensile properties are inadequate for correlation purposes, the cyclic strain-hardening coefficient, the cyclic yield strength, and the elastic modulus appear to be important parameters. This was felt to be an indication of the importance of strain cycling in the reversed plastic zone in influencing the rate-governing mechanisms in fatigue crack growth. Formerly Research Assistant, Department of Metallurgy and Materials Science, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.     

Fracture and fatigue crack propagation properties of hardened 52100 steel

Good toughness in hardened 52100 ball bearing steel is important in order to prevent premature fracture during mounting or service of bearing elements. Steel cleanliness, residual copper content, and carbon content effects have been investigated in relation to fracture mechanics properties, and it was observed that only the carbon content has any relevance for the range of compositions investigated. The effect of hardening and tempering temperatures for conventional furnace-hardening techniques on toughness was investigated, theK _lcbeing generally much less sensitive to these parameters than blunt notch toughness testing. Cold deformation of the material prior to martensitic hardening significantly increased the blunt notch toughness. Thermal grain refining treatments did not give the same improved blunt notch toughness as observed for prior cold deformation. Short austenitization cycles (ten seconds) for martensitic hardening resulted in microstructures with high retained austenite contents. This microstructure resulted in higher fracture toughness and retardation of the crack growth rates, the mechanism being associated with transformation toughening in the plastic zone. Inductive tempering of martensitic-hardened 52100 was observed to result in similar blunt notch toughnesses as compared to furnace tempered material of the same hardness. A poor correlation between fracture toughness and blunt notch toughness was observed, particularly for the unstable structures,i.e., microstructures with high levels of retained austenite. Fracture toughness does not represent the intrinsic toughness of high carbon martensite with related high contents of retained austenite.