Notched fatigue behavior including load sequence effects under axial and torsional loadings

Notch effects on axial and torsion fatigue behaviors of low carbon steel were investigated. Fully-reversed tests were conducted on thin-walled tubular specimens with or without a transverse circular hole. A shear failure mechanism was observed for both smooth and notched specimens and under both axial and torsion loadings. The notch effect was more pronounced under axial loading, in spite of higher stress concentration factor in torsion. The commonly used nominal S–N approach with fatigue notch factor in conjunction with von Mises effective stress resulted in overly conservative life predictions of both smooth and notched torsion fatigue lives. Neuber’s rule yielded notch root stress and strain amplitudes close to the FEA results for both axial and torsion loadings. The local strain approach based on effective strain obtained from Neuber’s rule or FEA resulted in poor correlation of the fatigue life data of smooth and notched specimens. The Fatemi–Socie critical plane parameter represented the observed failure mechanism and resulted in very good correlations of smooth and notched specimens fatigue data under both axial and torsion loadings. In block loading tests with equal number of alternating axial and torsion cycles at the same stress level, beneficial effect of axial loading was observed. Possible potential reasons for this unexpected behavior are discussed.     

Fatigue of casting flaws at a notch root under an SAE service load history

Smooth and notched specimens of a 319 cast aluminium alloy were fatigue tested under a Society of Automotive Engineers service load history in the as-cast and hipped conditions. The hipping process, which includes subjecting the cast material to a high pressure at high temperature and then slowly cooling down to eliminate internal flaws, decreased the flaw size and improved the fatigue life of cast Al 319 smooth specimens. A 0.6-mm-diameter hole was drilled at the notch root of notched specimens to simulate a natural flaw at the notch root. Specimens with two different notch sizes were tested. Circular edge notches reduced the fatigue strength and a 0.6-mm-diameter drilled hole at the notch root resulted in a further reduction.
The fatigue lives of smooth specimens, notched specimens and notched specimens with a flaw at the notch root subjected to the service load history were predicted using the strain-life approach, an effective strain-life approach and a strain-based intensity factor crack growth model. In crack growth modelling of the fatigue life of smooth cast aluminium specimens the flaw was modelled as a circular edge notch having the same diameter as the flaw. However, in the case of a flaw at a notch root the flaw was modelled as a three-dimensional cavity subjected to the notch stress field and the crack length was predicted in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the specimen cross-section. The strain-life approach was unconservative for all specimen geometries studied. The effective strain-life approach gave good predictions for smooth and blunt notched specimens but gave very conservative predictions for the specimens with flaws in the notch roots. The crack growth calculations gave accurate predictions for all the specimen geometries.     

Low‐cycle fatigue/high‐cycle fatigue interactions in notched Ti‐6Al‐4V*

Combined low‐cycle fatigue/high‐cycle fatigue (LCF/HCF) loadings were investigated for smooth and circumferentially V‐notched cylindrical Ti–6Al–4V fatigue specimens. Smooth specimens were first cycled under LCF loading conditions for a fraction of the previously established fatigue life. The HCF 10⁷ cycle fatigue limit stress after LCF cycling was established using a step loading technique. Specimens with two notch sizes, both having elastic stress concentration factors of K_t = 2.7, were cycled under LCF loading conditions at a nominal stress ratio of R = 0.1. The subsequent 10⁶ cycle HCF fatigue limit stress at both R = 0.1 and 0.8 was determined. The combined loading LCF/HCF fatigue limit stresses for all specimens were compared to the baseline HCF fatigue limit stresses. After LCF cycling and prior to HCF cycling, the notched specimens were heat tinted, and final fracture surfaces examined for cracks formed during the initial LCF loading. Fatigue test results indicate that the LCF loading, applied for 75% of total LCF life for the smooth specimens and 25% for the notched specimens, resulted in only small reductions in the subsequent HCF fatigue limit stress. Under certain loading conditions, plasticity‐induced stress redistribution at the notch root during LCF cycling appears responsible for an observed increase in HCF fatigue limit stress, in terms of net section stress.     

Analysis on the fatigue damage evolution of notched specimens with consideration of cyclic plasticity

This paper presents a damage mechanics method applied successfully to assess fatigue life of notched specimens with plastic deformation at the notch tip. A damage‐coupled elasto‐plastic constitutive model is employed in which nonlinear kinematic hardening is considered. The accumulated damage is described by a stress‐based damage model and a plastic strain‐based damage model, which depend on the cyclic stress and accumulated plastic strain, respectively. A three‐dimensional finite element implementation of these models is developed to predict the crack initiation life of notched specimens. Two cases, a notched plate under tension‐compression loadings and an SAE notched shaft under bending‐torsion loadings including non‐proportional loadings, are studied and the predicted results are compared with experimental data.     

Experimental investigation on low cycle fatigue and fracture behaviour of a notched Ni‐based superalloy at elevated temperature

In order to investigate the effects of stress concentration on low cycle fatigue properties and fracture behaviour of a nickel‐based powder metallurgy superalloy, FGH97, at elevated temperature, the low cycle fatigue tests have been conducted with semi‐circular and semi‐elliptical single‐edge notched plate specimens at 550 and 700 °C. The results show that the fatigue life of the notched specimen decreases with the increase of stress concentration factor and the fatigue crack initiation life evidently decreases because of the defect located in the stress concentration zone. Moreover, the plastic deformation induced by notch stress concentration affects the initial crack occurrence zone. The angle α of the crack occurrence zone is within ±10° of notch bisector for semi‐circular notched specimens and ±20° for semi‐elliptical notched specimens. The crack propagation rate decreases to a minimum at a certain length, D, and then increases with the growth of the crack. The crack propagation rate of the semi‐elliptical notched specimen decelerates at a faster rate than that of the semi‐circular notched specimen because of the increase of the notch plasticity gradient. The crack length, D, is affected by both the applied load and the notch plasticity gradient. In addition, the fracture mechanism is shown to transition from transgranular to intergranular as temperature increases from 550 to 700 °C, which would accelerate crack propagation and reduce the fatigue life.     

Influence of Ageing Heat Treatment on the High Cycle Fatigue of an 8090 Al-Li Alloy

Fatigue lives for the smooth and notched specimens of 8090 Al-Li alloy jn the different ageing conditions have been studied. For the smooth samples of 8090 alloy the artificial ageing results in an increase in fatigue life in comparison with natural ageing. On the contrary, the notched specimens of 8090 alloy in the naturally aged condition show higher fatigue life than in the peak-aged. The exposure to either the peak-aged or naturally aged leads to superior fatigue properties of Al-Li alloy to the traditional high strength aluminum alloys of 7075 and 2024, especially in the latter aged condition. In all ageing conditions, i,e. naturally, under-, peak- and over-aged, the peak-aged 8090 alloy displays the highest fatigue life and the over-aged material has a minimum value at the same stress amplitude. The difference in fatigue life is mainly attributable to the size and distribution of strengthening precipitates as well as the wide of precipitate free zones (PFZ's) along grain boundaries.     

NOTCHED FATIGUE BEHAVIOUR OF TWO COLD ROLLED STEELS

Abstract— A SAE1010 plain carbon steel and a SAE945X HSLA steel were cold rolled to various thickness reductions. Centre notched specimens were tested under stress control at a stress ratio of—1. The effect of loading direction on the fatigue strength was examined. The notched specimen fatigue strength was only slightly increased by cold rolling, since two opposing factors: the smooth specimen fatigue strength and the notch sensitivity, were increased by cold rolling. The notched specimen fatigue strength in the transverse direction was approximately the same as that in the longitudinal direction. An empirical equation and equations derived from fracture mechanics and Neuber's rule were applied to predict the fatigue notch factor for the sharp and blunt notch geometries examined. A reasonable agreement between the predictions and the experimental results was observed for the sharp notches. For the blunt notches, the predicted fatigue notch factors were conservative.     

A multiaxial high-cycle fatigue life evaluation model for notched structural components

A model for multiaxial high-cycle fatigue life evaluation of notched structural components is proposed, which considers the impact of the stress field on fatigue life by utilizing the Theory of Critical Distances (TCD) and Finite Element Method (FEM). The maximum shear stress range plane is defined as the critical plane, and the damage parameters are the maximum effective shear stress amplitude and the maximum effective normal stress, which are obtained by averaging the stress in the hemisphere volume around the maximum stress point. To validate the accuracy of the model, multiaxial fatigue tests are carried out for both smooth and notched specimens of Aluminum–Silicon alloy. The results indicate that the evaluated life and experimental life have a good agreement.     

ON THE IMPACT FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH BEHAVIOUR OF METALLIC MATERIALS

The impact fatigue crack growth characteristics of a low carbon steel and an aluminium alloy were studied. An impact fatigue testing machine of the Hopkinson bar type was used in these experiments to conduct a series of crack growth tests under simple impact stresses. The following characteristics of impact fatigue crack growth behaviour were revealed: (1) crack growth rate is higher in impact fatigue than in non-impact fatigue; (2) crack opening ratio in impact fatigue takes a higher value than in non-impact fatigue; (3) crack tip plastic zone size is smaller in impact fatigue than in non-impact fatigue.     

Fatigue life estimation of notched specimens of modified 9Cr-1Mo steel under uniaxial cyclic loading

Accuracy in the estimation of low cycle fatigue life of modified 9Cr-1Mo steel notched specimen by different analytical methods such as linear rule, Neuber’s rule, strain energy density method and numerical method such as finite element analysis have been studied in this investigation. The fatigue tests on notched specimens having notch radius of 1.25 mm, 2.5 mm and 5.0 mm were carried out at 823 K with net stress amplitudes of 250 MPa, 300 MPa and 350 MPa. The fatigue tests on smooth specimens were carried out with strain amplitudes ranging from ±0.3% to ±0.8% with a strain rate of 3 × 10^?3 s^?1 at 823 K to evaluate the fatigue life of notched specimen through strain-life approach. In order to predict the cyclic stress response of the material, Chaboche non-linear hardening model was employed considering two back stress components. Predicted hysteresis loops for smooth specimen were well in agreement with experimental results. Estimated fatigue lives of notched specimens by analytical methods and finite element analysis were within a factor ±16 and ±2.5 of the experimental lives respectively.     

残余应力对金属疲劳强度的影响

残余应力对光滑试样高周疲劳极限的影响可以用Goodman关系来描述，但必须要得到残余应力作用系数m、合理地提取残余应力的表征值和区分开其它因素的影响。残余应力对缺口疲劳极限的作用大于对光滑试样的作用，是由于残余应力也存在应力集中现象，而且不易衰减。残余应力的应力集中系数不仅与缺口几何因素有关，还与材料特性有关。试验研究还表明，表层残余压应力对于承受轴向载荷且疲劳残纹萌生于表面的零件也十分有益。     

Fatigue life behaviour of TiAlN and TiAlN/CrN coated notched P20 steel specimens

The performance of single layer TiAlN and multilayered TiAlN/CrN physical vapour deposition coatings deposited on AISI P20 steel substrate in affecting overall fatigue resistance of notched specimens was assessed and compared with the performance of the uncoated counterparts. V‐shaped circumferential notches on cylindrical specimens were adopted for fatigue tests. Surface coating characteristics such as hardness, elastic modulus and microstrains were measured and found to be different and often larger than those of the steel substrate. Unlike the un‐notched (smooth) coated specimens, which are known to exhibit large improvements in fatigue life in the high cycle fatigue regime, considerable reductions in fatigue life of the coated notched samples were observed. This was understood to be because of the coating's brittleness, which induces at the notch tip early and frequent fatigue crack initiations, especially in the case of multiple layered coatings. Scanning electron microscope images showed more crack initiation sites in both the coated specimens compared with the uncoated specimen. Also, presence of dimples on the surface confirmed dimple rupture mechanism in the ductile steel substrate in the coated and uncoated specimens.     

Fatigue limit prediction of notched components using short crack growth theory and an asymptotic interpolation method

Mechanical components have stress risers, such as notchs, corners, welding toes and holes. These geometries cause stress concentrations in the component and reduce the fatigue strength and life of the structure. Fatigue crack usually initiates at and propagates from these locations. Traditional fatigue analysis of notched specimens is done using an empirical formula and a fitted fatigue notch factor, which is experimentally expensive and lacks physical meaning. A general methodology for fatigue limit prediction of notched specimens is proposed in this paper. First, an asymptotic interpolation method is proposed to estimate the stress intensity factor (SIF) for cracks at the notch root. Both edge notched and center notched components with finite dimension correction are included into the proposed method. The small crack correction is included in the proposed asymptotic solution using El Haddad’s fictitious crack length. Fatigue limit of the notched specimen is estimated using the proposed stress intensity factor solution when the realistic crack length is approaching zero. A wide range of experimental data are collected and used to validate the proposed methodology. The relationship between the proposed methodology and the traditionally used fatigue notch factor approach is discussed.     

Ultrasonic fatigue testing on notched and smooth specimens of ultrafine-grained steel

Ultrasonic and conventional electromagnetic resonance fatigue tests were conducted on notched and smooth specimens of ultrafine-grained steels. The notched specimens developed no internal fractures but showed a fatigue limit. In this case, ultrasonic fatigue testing showed good agreement with the electromagnetic resonance. The smooth specimens showed internal fractures after ultrasonic fatigue testing, but not during electromagnetic resonance testing. In the smooth specimens, ultrasonic fatigue testing showed a longer fatigue life. These results show that the frequency effect is negligible in surface fractures of notched specimens but not in smooth specimens. The frequency effect causes a change in type of fracture from surface fracture to internal fracture. Concerning the gigacycle fatigue properties, the ultrafine-grained steel shows a fatigue limit with notched specimens, whereas the fatigue limit can disappear with smooth specimens because of the internal fracture.     

Fatigue strength of a vacuum-carburised TRIP-aided martensitic steel

Fatigue properties of a transformation-induced plasticity-aided martensitic steel subjected to vacuum carburisation under carbon potentials ranging from 0.70 to 0.80 mass% and subsequent fine-particle peening were investigated for the fabrication of precision transmission gears. The fatigue limits of smooth specimens increased by 34–41% with increasing carbon potential, compared with that of heat-treated and fine-particle peened steel. The notched fatigue limits increased to a lesser degree except in case of carbon potential of 0.70 mass%. The increased smooth fatigue limits were associated with the high Vickers hardness and compressive residual stress via severe plastic deformation and the strain-induced martensitic transformation during fine-particle peening, as well as a 50% reduction of retained austenite fraction during fatigue deformation.     

FATIGUE STRENGTH OF A ROTOR STEEL SUBJECTED TO TORSIONAL LOADING SIMULATING THAT OCCURRING DUE TO CIRCUIT BREAKER RECLOSING IN AN ELECTRIC POWER PLANT

Abstract— The fatigue strength of notched specimens of a rotor steel was examined under variable torsional loading which simulates turbine-generator oscillations resulting from the high speed reclosing of transmission-line circuit breakers. The local stress-strain response at a notch root was analysed using Neuber's rule and the resulting complex strain sequences applied to smooth specimens. Using the rain flow analysis and the linear summation rule, fatigue lives of the smooth specimens were successfully predicted from constant amplitude fatigue life data in association with the cyclic stress-strain curve obtained by the incremental step method. Experimental crack initiation lives for notched specimens subjected to variable torsional loading were in excellent agreement with the theoretical curves derived from results on smooth specimens. According to the view that fatigue damage is equated to crack length, the propagation life of a mode II crack along the notch root was predicted to be actually coincident with the life to crack initiation at the notch root denned in this study, i.e. the life at the stage of finding a continuous circumferential crack.     

The effect of frequency on the giga‐cycle fatigue properties of a Ti–6Al–4V alloy

The effect of frequency on giga‐cycle fatigue properties was investigated in smooth and 0.3 mm‐hole‐notched specimens at three heats (Heats A, B, and C) for a 900 MPa‐class Ti‐6Al‐4V alloy. Fatigue tests were performed at frequencies of 120 Hz, 600 Hz, and 20 kHz using electromagnetic resonance, high‐speed servohydraulic, and ultrasonic fatigue testing machines, respectively. Heats A and B developed internal fractures, and in these cases, frequency effects were negligible. On the other hand, Heat C developed only surface fractures. In this case, high‐frequency tests showed a higher fatigue strength, indicating frequency effects were not negligible. The tests using the notched specimens showed almost no frequency effects regardless of the heat. The frequency effects observed in the cases of surface fracture were believed to be related to a delay in local plastic deformation in response to high‐frequency loading, since temperature increases in these specimens were successfully suppressed. The delay in the plastic deformation was observed to be reduced in the notched specimens because of stress concentration and limitation in the plastic deformation zone. In turn, the significant conclusion of this research is that high‐frequency tests can be applied not only to internal fractures but also to notch problems, but are not applicable to surface fractures of smooth specimens.     

Influence of changes of the bending plane position on the fatigue life

The paper concerns influence of changes of the bending plane position on the fatigue life. The obtained results were analyzed and compared with the fatigue results for oscillatory bending. The applied specimens were smooth, they had round sections, and they were made of the leaded brass CuZn40Pb2 (MO58). The results obtained under cyclic bending with the plane position change were compared with the results obtained for the specimens with the same parameters under pure oscillatory bending. A change of the bending plane position occurred every 10% fatigue life determined under pure oscillatory bending at the given amplitude of the bending moment, according to the defined fatigue characteristics. Calculated values of nominal stress in a cross section were recalculated according with cyclic material properties and values of elasto‐plastic stress were obtained.     

镍基单晶合金中温疲劳性能应力集中敏感性

疲劳是涡轮叶片的一种主要失效模式.本文开展了DD11单晶合金在650℃中温条件下2种应力集中系数(K_t=1(光滑状态)、K_t=3(缺口状态))的旋转弯曲疲劳性能研究,对比了2种应力集中系数下的疲劳强度,并开展了相关断口分析.结果表明:应力集中系数由K_t=1增大到K_t=3时,疲劳极限由446 MPa降低为311 MPa,说明DD11单晶合金疲劳性能存在应力集中敏感性;疲劳寿命由10~5提高到10~7时,光滑状态由600 MPa降低为420 MPa,疲劳强度降低幅度为180 MPa,而缺口状态由370 MPa降低为290 MPa,降低幅度为80 MPa,说明应力集中条件下DD11单晶合金的疲劳寿命对于外载变化较敏感.断口分析表明,光滑试样断口(应力500 MPa/疲劳寿命9.7×10~5)由几个相交的光滑晶体学平面组成,疲劳源萌生在距表面100μm左右的铸造孔洞;缺口试样断口(应力340 MPa/疲劳寿命8.1×10~5试样)呈平面状,与应力轴垂直,为多源疲劳模式,疲劳源观察到小刻面,在加工刀痕不连续位置萌生.     

Prediction of Fatigue Life of a Notched Body by the Local Stress-Strain State. Part 3. Allowing for Stress and Strain Gradients

We propose a method for calculating the fatigue life of bodies with stress concentrators prior to the fatigue-crack initiation. It is based on the energy criterion of fracture. Energy dissipated in a notch is taken as a determining parameter. The method allows the fatigue life of notched bodies under regular symmetrical loading to be predicted from the cyclic strain and fatigue characteristics of the material, as obtained in tests of smooth specimens. We analyze the influence of absolute dimensions of a stress concentrator on the fatigue life and propose relationships for calculating the gradients of dissipated energy and the residual strain amplitude. The data we obtained are compared with the test results for notched specimens of 30KhGSA steel and D16AT and AMtsM aluminum alloys.