Fracture Mechanics (DE G514)

BITS Pilani VIKAS CHAUDHARI

K K Birla Goa Campus
DE G514 | FRACTURE MECHANICS Slide # 2

Chapter- 9
FATIGUE FAILURE

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Terminology Slide # 3

❑There are two kinds of fatigue loads,

(i) constant amplitude load and, (ii) variable amplitude load.

❑The loads on locomotive axles are of constant amplitude whereas

fluctuating wind load on a wing of an airplane is of variable
amplitude.

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Terminology Slide # 4

❑Suppose maximum stress is max & minimum stress min then

Stress range = max - min

(max + min )
Mean stress =
2

Corresponding to max & min , we can define Kmax & Kmin

𝐾𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑎Τ𝑤 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝜋𝑎 and 𝐾𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝑓 𝑎Τ𝑤 𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝜋𝑎

where 𝑓 𝑎Τ𝑤 is the geometric factor for crack length a and component width W
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Terminology Slide # 5

∆𝐾 = 𝐾𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝐾𝑚𝑖𝑛

𝜎𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝐾𝑚𝑖𝑛
Stress ratio is given, 𝑅 = =
𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝐾𝑚𝑎𝑥
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 Terminology Slide # 6

❑ R can be positive, zero and negative

❑ For negative stress ratio, compressive stress loading is not
likely to grow the crack and, therefore, some investigators
treat this case same as the one having R = 0.
❑ A fatigue crack may be initiated at an existing notch, an
inclusion or a surface.
❑ The number of cycles required to initiate a crack and then
make it grow to a detectable length is known as initiation life
Ni.
❑ The number of cycles required to grow the smallest
detectable crack to a critical size is known as propagation life
NP.
❑ Thus, the total life N = Ni + NP
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S-N Curve Slide # 7

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Crack Initiation Slide # 8

❑ da/ dN is extremely small, 10-10 m/ cycle which

is of the order of one lattice parameter.
❑ Such a small crack growth rate cannot be
detected easily and, therefore, it is included in
crack initiation.
❑ The crack growth curve is known as Sigmoidal
Curve
❑ There is no initiation of crack growth if ΔK is
smaller than a threshold ΔKth

Characteristic growth curve of a fatigue crack

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Crack Propagation Slide # 9

❑ The crack propagation rate, da/dN, depends

on ΔK and stress ratio R
❑ Paris law is most widely used and is stated as

where C and m are material constants

Effect of stress ratio on Sigmoidal curve

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Crack Propagation Slide # 10

In these relations, crack length a

is in meter and ΔK in MPa 𝑚

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Crack Propagation Slide # 11

❑ Determination of crack propagation life NP

❑ If m = 2 then

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Effect of an Overload Slide # 12

An overload pulse on the constant

Enclave of residual compressive Retarded growth of the crack
amplitude fatigue load
stress developed by the overload owing to the overload pulse
and plastic zone of subsequent
pulses

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Crack Closure Slide # 13

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Crack Closure Slide # 14

❑ where Kcl is the stress intensity factor at the time of closure of crack faces
❑ Kcl is generally not determined.
❑ An alternative procedure is adopted by modifying the Paris law by associating a
factor U with ΔK.

where

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Crack Closure Slide # 15

❑ Several empirical models have been suggested for finding U

Elber proposed the formula for 2024-T3 aluminum

Schijve suggested the formula for 2024-T3 aluminum

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Variable Amplitude Fatigue Load Slide # 16

❑ To predict the life or the crack growth of a component, one should know the
expected load history based on previous experiences
❑ Based on the application, a suitable statistical procedure is adopted to determine
root mean square value of ΔK
❑ If Paris law is chosen, the propagation equation becomes

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Examples Slide # 17

Ex.1
An edge crack, detected on a large plate, is of length 3.1 mm under a constant
amplitude cyclic load having max = 310 MPa and min = 172 MPa. If the plate is
made of a ferrite-pearlite steel and KIc = 165 MPa 𝑚, determine
(a) Propagation life up to failure and
(b) Propagation life if the crack length a is not allowed to exceed 25 mm.

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Examples Slide # 18

Solution
For this large plate with the edge crack

Taking value of C and m from the following equation

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Examples Slide # 19

Solution

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Examples Slide # 20

Ex.2
Fluctuating load on a critical component of
an offshore structure is shown by a
histogram in Figure. During a routine
check-up, an edge crack of length 1.5 mm
is detected. If the crack length is not
allowed to exceed 25 mm, determine the
remaining life of the component. Use
Paris law with material constants as
C = 6.0 x 10-12 (Mpa)-3.2 m-0.6 and m = 3.2.

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Examples Slide # 21

Solution

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Problems Slide # 22

Prob.1

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Problems Slide # 23

Prob.2

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Problems Slide # 24

Prob.3
On a large plate used as a critical
component of a machine, amplitude of the
fatigue load shifts several times in a
sequence of every 1000 cycles as indicated
below. The crack growth in the material
follows the Paris law with C = 2.2 × 10-12
(MPa)3.4(m)-0.7, m = 3.4. Determine how
many sequences are needed to cause the
failure if the initial crack of 2a = 7.2mm is
detected near the centre of the plate and
KIC = 80 MPa

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DE G514 | FRACTURE MECHANICS Slide # 25

Thank You!

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