Fatigue-Life Prediction Methodology Using a Crack-Closure Model

1995 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Newman

This paper reviews the capabilities of a plasticity-induced crack-closure model and life-prediction code, FASTRAN, to predict fatigue lives of metallic materials using small-crack theory. Crack-tip constraint factors, to account for three-dimensional state-of-stress effects, were selected to correlate large-crack growth rate data as a function of the effective-stress-intensity factor range (ΔKeff) under constant-amplitude loading. Some modifications to the ΔKeff-rate relations were needed in the near-threshold regime to fit small-crack growth rate behavior and endurance limits. The model was then used to calculate small- and large-crack growth rates, and to predict total fatigue lives, for notched specimens made of several aluminum alloys and a titanium alloy under constant-amplitude and spectrum loading. Fatigue lives were calculated using the crack-growth relations and microstructural features like those that initiated cracks for the aluminum alloys. An equivalent-initial-flaw-size concept was used to bound the fatigue lives for the titanium alloy. Results from the tests and analyses agreed well.

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 807
Author(s):  
James C. Newman

Fatigue of materials, like alloys, is basically fatigue-crack growth in small cracks nucleating and growing from micro-structural features, such as inclusions and voids, or at micro-machining marks, and large cracks growing to failure. Thus, the traditional fatigue-crack nucleation stage (Ni) is basically the growth in microcracks (initial flaw sizes of 1 to 30 μm growing to about 250 μm) in metal alloys. Fatigue and crack-growth tests were conducted on a 9310 steel under laboratory air and room temperature conditions. Large-crack-growth-rate data were obtained from compact, C(T), specimens over a wide range in rates from threshold to fracture for load ratios (R) of 0.1 to 0.95. New test procedures based on compression pre-cracking were used in the near-threshold regime because the current ASTM test method (load shedding) has been shown to cause load-history effects with elevated thresholds and slower rates than steady-state behavior under constant-amplitude loading. High load-ratio (R) data were used to approximate small-crack-growth-rate behavior. A crack-closure model, FASTRAN, was used to develop the baseline crack-growth-rate curve. Fatigue tests were conducted on single-edge-notch-bend, SEN(B), specimens under both constant-amplitude and a Cold-Turbistan+ spectrum loading. Under spectrum loading, the model used a “Rainflow-on-the-Fly” subroutine to account for crack-growth damage. Test results were compared to fatigue-life calculations made under constant-amplitude loading to establish the initial microstructural flaw size and predictions made under spectrum loading from the FASTRAN code using the same micro-structural, semi-circular, surface-flaw size (6-μm). Thus, the model is a unified fatigue approach, from crack nucleation (small-crack growth) and large-crack growth to failure using fracture mechanics principles. The model was validated for both fatigue and crack-growth predictions. In general, predictions agreed well with the test data.


2012 ◽  
Vol 525-526 ◽  
pp. 221-224
Author(s):  
Rui Bao ◽  
Xiao Chen Zhao ◽  
Ting Zhang ◽  
Jian Yu Zhang

Experiments have been conducted to investigate the crack growth characteristics of 7050-T7451 aluminium plate in L-S orientation. Two loading conditions are selected, i.e. constant amplitude and constant stress intensity factor range (ΔK). The effects of ΔK-levels and stress ratios (R) on crack splitting are studied. Test data shows that crack splitting could result in the reverse of crack growth rate trend with the increasing R ratio at high ΔK-level. The appearance of crack splitting depends on both ΔK and R.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koji Miyoshi ◽  
Masayuki Kamaya

Abstract The effect of a single overload on the fatigue crack growth rate was investigated for Type 316 stainless steel. Fatigue crack growth tests were conducted by controlling strain and load. Tensile and compressive overloads were applied during constant amplitude cycling. The overload ratio, which was defined as the ratio of overload size to baseline constant amplitude, was also changed. The constant amplitude tests were conducted at the strain or the stress ratio of −1.0 which was defined as the ratio of the minimum value to the maximum value. The crack opening point was obtained by the unloading elastic compliance method. The crack growth rate increased after the single compressive overload. The accelerating rate increased with the overload ratio. In contrast, not only the acceleration but also the retardation of the crack growth rate was observed for some tensile overload cases. The crack growth rate increased for relatively small tensile overload cases and decreased for relatively large tensile overload cases. The change in the crack opening level was examined. The crack growth rates after tensile and compressive single overloads correlated with the effective strain and stress intensity factor ranges both for load and strain controlling modes.


2014 ◽  
Vol 891-892 ◽  
pp. 948-954 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine Burchill ◽  
Simon A. Barter ◽  
Michael Jones

It has often been observed that the growth of short fatigue cracks under variable amplitude (VA) cyclic loading is not well predicted when utilising standard constant amplitude (CA) crack growth rate/stress intensity data (da/dN v DK). This paper outlines a coupon fatigue test program and analyses, investigating a possible cause of crack growth retardation from CA-only testing. Various test loading spectra were developed with sub-blocks of VA and CA cycles, then using quantitative fractography (QF) the sub-block crack growth increments were measured. Comparison of these results found that, after establishing a consistent uniform crack front using a VA load sequence, the average crack growth rate then progressively slowed down with the number of subsequent CA load cycles applied. Further fractographic investigation of the fracture surface at the end of each CA and VA sub-block crack growth, identified significant crack front morphology differences. Thus it is postulated that a variation or deviation from an efficient crack path is a driver of local retardation in short crack growth during CA loading. This may be a source of error in analytical predictions of crack growth under VA spectra loading that may need to be considered in addition to other potential effects such asless closure whilst cracks are small. For aircraft designers, using solely CA data for fatigue life predictions this may result in non-conservative estimates of total crack fatigue life, producing unexpected failures or an increased maintenance burden.


Author(s):  
Jiaxi Zhao ◽  
Weixing Chen ◽  
Sean Keane ◽  
Jenny Been ◽  
Greg Van Boven

This investigation primarily focused on the validation of the software being developed for crack growth and remaining life prediction using SCADA data. A total of nine pressure spectra, four for oil pipelines and five for gas pipelines, have been collected and used as inputs for the software. It was found that these spectra could be categorized as the underload-, the meanload- and the overload-dominant spectra; each of them have shown different effects on crack growth: the underload spectra, typical of pressure fluctuations at the discharging sites, are most susceptible to crack growth because of load interactions between the minor pressure fluctuations and the unload cycles; while the overload spectra, often found at the suction site, have exhibited retarded crack growth due to the retardation effects caused by overloading. The relative severity of the load interactions in terms of crack growth rate for a given spectrum was quantified using a parameter termed as the Spectrum Factor. A Spectrum Factor greater than one indicates the enhanced crack growth rate by load interactions, such as the case where unloading is frequently present in the pressure spectra, while a Spectrum Factor lower than one may be associated with a retarded crack growth, which can be seen in pressure spectra with predominant overloading events. The predictions made by the models being developed were also compared with those made by the rainflow counting method. The software allows for the SCADA/pressure fluctuation data, in excel spreadsheet format, to be directly analyzed producing a projected remaining life of the pipeline based on the past pressure fluctuations and the assumed future pressure fluctuations.


Author(s):  
Kokleang Vor ◽  
Catherine Gardin ◽  
Christine Sarrazin-Baudoux ◽  
Jean Petit ◽  
Claude Amzallag

The scope of this study is to investigate the effect of tensile prestrain on crack growth behavior in a 304L stainless steel. Fatigue crack propagation tests were performed on single-edge notched tension (SENT) raw specimens (0% of prestrain) and on prestrained specimens (2% and 10%). On one hand, it is found that the different levels of prestrain exhibit no significant influence on crack propagation in the high range of Stress Intensity Factor (SIF), where there is no detectable crack closure. On the other hand, a clear effect of prestrain on crack growth rate can be observed in the near threshold region where closure is detected. Thus, it can be concluded that the prestrain mainly affects the crack growth rate through its influence on the crack closure.


2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mamdouh M. Salama

Optimization of weight, cost, and performance of deepwater offshore structures demands the increased utilization of high strength, light weight, and corrosion resistant materials such as titanium alloys. Titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V has been considered for several critical components such as risers and taper joints. Because of the novelty of use of titanium alloys in the offshore industry, there is currently no standard governing design of titanium components for offshore structures. Since these structural components are subjected to a complex spectrum of environmental loading, assessment of defect tolerance using fatigue crack growth analysis is generally considered an important design parameter. In this paper, more than 60 crack growth data sets from 20 independent laboratories were collected and analyzed to develop crack growth rate equations for use in defect assessment. These data include the results of fatigue testing of both base material and welded joints in air and seawater with and without cathodic protection and at different R-ratios and test frequencies. The results suggest that for crack growth rates above 10−7 in./cycle, crack growth of Ti-6Al-4V appears to be independent of testing condition and materials processing. At the low crack growth rate (below 10−7 in./cycle), the review revealed that data are very limited. These limited data, however, suggest that the crack growth threshold is dependent on the R-ratio and slightly dependent on material processing. Comparison between crack growth rates of steel and titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) showed that the two materials have very similar behavior.


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