Numerical analysis for prediction of fatigue crack opening level

Finite element analysis (FEA) is the most popular numerical method to simulate plasticity-induced fatigue crack closure and can predict fatigue crack closure behavior. Finite element analysis under plane stress state using 4-node isoparametric elements is performed to investigate the detailed closure behavior of fatigue cracks and the numerical results are compared with experimental results. The mesh of constant size elements on the crack surface can not correctly predict the opening level for fatigue crack as shown in the previous works. The crack opening behavior for the size mesh with a linear change shows almost flat stress level after a crack tip has passed by the monotonic plastic zone. The prediction of crack opening level presents a good agreement with published experimental data regardless of stress ratios, which are using the mesh of the elements that are in proportion to the reversed plastic zone size considering the opening stress intensity factors. Numerical interpolation results of finite element analysis can precisely predict the crack opening level. This method shows a good agreement with the experimental data regardless of the stress ratios and kinds of materials.     

Fatigue crack propagation behaviour of a Ni−Cr−Mo steel due to rest period and overload

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of an intermittent rest period at 300°C, overload in tension, and the combination of an overload and a subsequent rest period on fatigue crack growth in AISI 4340 steel. The intermittent rest period was found to stop fatigue crack growth completely near threshold level of ΔK. The alleviation effect of a rest period on crack growth was more distinct at the lower level of ΔK. In overload, the greater overload ratio (OLR=3) caused more alleviated effect on crack growth rate. The reduced stress intensity factor by crack branching and enhanced roughness of crack surface are proposed to contribute to the retardation and arrest of fatigue crack growth. The most distinct retardation of fatigue crack growth was found after the combined treatment of a overload and a subsequent rest period.     

Crack opening behavior of penetrated crack under fatigue load

The leak-before-break (LBB) behaviors of a structural component under high and low fatigue loads are an important problem in nuclear power plants, liquid nitrogen gas tankers and chemical plants. This paper is an experimental study to evaluate the crack opening behavior after penetration for plate and pipe specimens. Crack opening displacement after penetration under low fatigue load could be satisfactorily determined at the center of the plate thickness regardless of the specimen size. In the case of high fatigue load, it is shown that the crack opening displacement at the center of a penetrated crack can be derived using the gross stress,σ _C , and the front surface crack length, a _s , together with the back surface crack length, a _b .     

A study on the determination of closing level for finite element analysis of fatigue crack closure

An elastic-plastic finite element analysis is performed to investigate detailed closure behavior of fatigue cracks and the numerical results are compared with experimental results. The finite element analysis performed under plane stress using 4-node isoparametric elements can predict fatigue crack closure behavior. The mesh of constant element size along crack surface can not predict the opening level of fatigue crack. The crack opening level for the constant mesh size increases linearly from initial crack growth. The crack opening level for variable mesh size, is almost flat after crack tip has passed the monotonic plastic zone. The prediction of crack opening level using the variable mesh size proportioning the reversed plastic zone size with the opening stress intensity factors presents a good agreement with the experimental data regardless of stress ratios.     

Maximum principal tensile stress and fatigue crack origin for compression springs

Contrary to the traditional concepts, for helical compression springs with a large coil radius to wire radius ratio, the most highly stressed region is at the outer surface of the helix rather than inside. The likely fatigue crack origin is also located on the outer surface of the helix where the maximum amplitude of the principal tensile stress was calculated during cyclic loading. An equation is proposed for the maximum tensile stress from loading of a helical spring, and a method is presented to calculate the likely fatigue crack origin. It is demonstrated that for high-stressed springs, fatigue design should be based on the range of the maximum principal tensile stress. The influence of the shot peening on the location of the fatigue crack origin is also investigated.     

Fatigue crack propagation behavior in STS304 under mixed-mode loading

The use of fracture mechanics has traditionally concentrated on crack growth under an opening mechanism. However, many service failures occur from cracks subjected to mixed-mode loading. Hence, it is necessary to evaluate the fatigue behavior under mixed-mode loading. Under mixed-mode loading, not only the fatigue crack propagation rate is of importance, but also the crack propagation direction. In modified range 0.3≤a/W≤0.5, the stress intensity factors (SIFs) of mode I and mode II for the compact tension shear (CTS) specimen were calculated by using elastic finite element analysis. The propagation behavior of the fatigue cracks of cold rolled stainless steels (STS304) under mixed-mode conditions was evaluated by using K_I and K_II(SIFs of mode I and mode II). The maximum tangential stress (MTS) criterion and stress intensity factor were applied to predict the crack propagation direction and the propagation behavior of fatigue cracks.     

恒幅和单峰超载疲劳裂纹尖端区域残余应力场的数值模拟

采用弹塑性有限元方法,对恒幅及不同超载比的单峰超载作用下的裂纹扩展进行有限元模拟.通过模拟得到的裂纹扩展过程中裂尖塑性区及应力(残余应力)场分析产生裂纹闭合的原因以及对裂纹扩展的影响.结果表明,从残余应力角度分析裂纹扩展是可行的,为建立基于残余应力的裂纹扩展模型提供分析基础.     

A formula for the crack opening level under random loading in 2024-T351 aluminum alloy

Based on the fatigue crack growth results of the previous work for 2024-T351 aluminum alloy, the crack closure behavior under random loading was analyzed, and the correlation between the crack opening ratio and the stress ratio under random loading was discussed. The crack opening ratio under random loading can be expressed as a function of the stress ratio for the largest load cycle in a random load history. The correlation obtained is found to provide good predictions for crack growth under random loading.     

Effect of overloads on fatigue crack propagation within molded parts of railroad constructions

To determine the regularity of fatigue crack propagation during cyclic loading with tensile overloads, a method of the estimation of the effective stress ratio of loading cycles, which is equivalent to the rate of crack propagation by the diagram of fatigue failure, is proposed. Thereby, the relation between the diagram of the fatigue failure and the phenomenon of crack retardation after tensile loads, which is complicated by its physical nature, is established. The experimental-computational studies were carried out on 20гΦЛ steel of a bogie bolster of a freight car.     

基于疲劳短裂纹行为的疲劳寿命估算方法

在疲劳短裂纹形成和扩展行为基础上，提出了一种疲劳寿命估算方法。计算结果表明，该方法具有满意的预测精度。     

Variable amplitude fatigue crack growth behavior — a short overview

A short overview concerning variable amplitude (VA) fatigue crack growth behavior is presented in this paper. The topics covered in this review encompass important issues pertaining to both single and repeated overload transients. Reviews on transient post overload effects such as plasticity induced crack closure, crack tip blunting, residual stresses, crack deflection and branching, activation of near threshold mechanisms, strain hardening are highlighted. A brief summary on experimental trends and finite element modelling of overload induced crack closure is also presented.     

疲劳裂纹闭合的数值模拟方法

用弹塑性有限元法模拟含中心裂纹试件在等幅循环拉伸应力作用下的疲劳裂纹扩展过程,对塑性变形导致的裂纹闭合效应进行了分析。试件材料为2024-T351铝合金板,平面应力状态,线性随动强化假设。分析中考虑裂纹面的弹塑性接触和几何非线性变形,通过逐步释放裂尖节点来模拟裂纹扩展。考察了裂尖局部网格单元尺度、裂纹长度和平均应力对裂纹张开/闭合应力水平的影响。裂纹闭合效应会随疲劳裂纹长度增加而逐渐增强,呈先爬升再缓慢下降的趋势,应力比的增大会导致裂纹张开/闭合应力水平提高。此外,网格细度也对张开/闭合应力的大小有一定影响。     

Creep-fatigue crack growth behavior of a structure with crack like defects at the welds

A study on a creep-fatigue crack growth behavior has been carried out for a cylindrical structure with weldments by using a structural test and an evaluation according to the assessment procedures. The creep-fatigue crack growth behavior following the creep-fatigue crack initiation has been assessed by using the French A16 procedure and the conservatism for the present structural test has been examined. The structural specimen is a welded cylindrical shell made of 316 L stainless steel (SS) for one half of the cylinder and 304 SS for the other half. In the creep-fatigue test, the hold time under a tensile load which produces the primary nominal stress of 45 MPa was one hour at 600°C and creep-fatigue loads of 600 cycles were applied. The evaluation results for the creep-fatigue crack propagation were compared with those of the observed images from the structural test. The assessment results for the creep-fatigue crack behavior according to the French A16 procedure showed that the A16 is overly conservative for the creep-fatigue crack propagation in the present case with a short hold time of one hour.     

Micro-strain distribution around a crack tip by electron beam moiré methods

The microscopic deformation around a crack tip in a small tensile specimen of aluminum was measured by using electron beam moiré methods. The tensile test was carried out in a scanning electron microscope(SEM) by using specially designed small tensile testing apparatus for an SEM. A line grating with a pitch of 87 nm was written at the crack tip by electron beam lithography. SEM images of the grating contained(original) moiré fringes at certain magnifications without loadings on the specimen. The displacement and strain in the region 10 to 50 μ m from the crack tip were evaluated by analyzing the (mismatch) moiré fringes. Measured strains normal to loadings(longitudinal strains) near the crack tip were found to be comparable to those estimated using linear elastic fracture mechanics(LEFM), for the lowest load, and elastic-plastic fracture mechanics, at effective crack tip position located within the actual crack tip. The exponent of the strain singularity in the vicinity of the actual crack tip changed with applied stress, ranging between ?0.64 and ?1.0. The measured crack tip opening displacement(CTOD) values disagreed with CTODs based on the Hutchinson-Rice-Rosengren(HRR) field, the Dugdale model, and LEFM. The experimental plastic zones spread from the line of crack extension up to an angle of about 60°, as expected from LEFM theory.     

Low cycle fatigue of PPS polymer injection welds (I)-fatigue crack behavior-

An important class of short-fiber reinforced composites is the sheet molding compound, which is recently developed and currently used in many engineering applications. Fatigue failure of the composites is a subject of major concern in design and cyclic crack propagation is of particular significance in the fatigue life prediction of short fiber composites. However, research on the fatigue behavior of polymer injection weld, especially short glass fiber-filled polymer injection weld, has not been carried out. In this study the analyses of the fatigue crack growth behaviors at weld line and in the bulk are performed based on low cycle fatigue test.     

Gear crack propagation investigations

Analytical and experimental studies were performed to investigate the effect of gear rim thickness on crack propagation life. The FRANC (FRacture Analysis Code) computer program was used to simulate crack propagation. The FRANC program used principles of linear elastic fracture mechanics, finite element modelling, and a unique re-meshing scheme to determine crack tip stress distributions, estimate stress intensity factors, and model crack propagation. Various fatigue crack growth models were used to estimate crack propagation life, based on the calculated stress intensity factors. Experimental tests were performed in a gear fatigue rig to validate predicted crack propagation results. Test gears were installed with special crack propagation gauges in the tooth fillet region to measure bending fatigue crack growth. Good correlation between predicted and measured crack growth was achieved when the fatigue crack closure concept was introduced into the analysis. As the gear rim thickness decreased, the compressive cyclic stress in the gear tooth fillet region increased. This retarded crack growth and increased the number of crack propagation cycles to failure.     

高碳铬轴承钢的超长寿命疲劳行为的研究

使用砂漏型试样对高碳铬轴承钢的S-N曲线特性和破坏机理进行了研究。通过旋转弯曲疲劳试验获得的S-N曲线按照破坏模式的不同被划分为裂纹萌生位置不同的两组。一组叫做表面破坏模式的S-N曲线,它发生在高应力幅短寿命区,是由试样表面晶体滑移引起的。另一组叫做内部破坏模式的S-N曲线,它发生在低应力幅长寿命区,是由试样内部的非金属夹杂引起的。由于内部破坏模式的疲劳破坏发生在表面破坏模式的疲劳极限上下很宽的应力幅范围,因此,试验材料的S-N曲线的形状与通常报道的阶梯形状的S-N曲线的形状不同,它具有两条S-N曲线的特性。通过对断口上裂纹萌生位置的详细观察和裂纹萌生位置的初期尺寸参数的计算,阐述了内部破坏模式的破坏机理,提出了基于尺寸参数的超长寿命疲劳极限的推定方法。     

超高强度钢十亿周疲劳研究

利用20kHz压电超声疲劳试验技术，对六种抗拉强度高于1500MPa的低合金钢进行测试。结果表明，这些材料并不存在传统规范中所谓的“疲劳极限”，它们在超过10^7，甚至10^9应力循环后仍然继续发生破坏，而且其S－N曲线表现出“阶梯”型特征。研究还发现，这些材料都存在一个分界应力幅值区间（或应力循环数区间，大约在10^6到10^7的平台内），裂纹萌生由试件表面向其内部转换。实验证明了十亿周级超高周疲劳裂纹由试件内部萌生的机理。     

拉压载荷对疲劳裂纹扩展影响的有限元分析

利用弹塑性有限元方法研究了压应力对裂纹尖端塑性区的影响和长短裂纹尖端的塑性区和裂纹张开剖面.通过分析表明,压应力对裂纹尖端塑性区和疲劳裂纹的扩展有显著的影响.     

钛合金Ti-6Al-4V两种微观结构的裂纹扩展行为研究

介绍对两种均匀锻造的片晶结构的钛合金Ti-6Al-4V的疲劳裂纹扩展性能的研究情况。在材料准备时，注意避免材料的方向性等对性能的影响。采用标准试验方法进行各项力学性能试验，试验数据表明，两种片晶微观结构的钛合金的拉伸强度相差约5％，拉伸塑性相关13％，疲劳行为有较大不同，微观组织细密的钛合金材料的性能比较好。两种片晶的小裂纹扩展速率与长裂纹扩展速率相比有明显增加，但对于本研究的试验条件，在应力比R＝0和R＝－1的情况下，两种状态之间的裂纹扩展行为差别不大。试验数据说明，裂纹闭合是小裂纹效应的主要原因之一。