Failure initiation in unnotched specimens subjected to monotonic and cyclic loading

Failure initiation in unnotched cylindrical bar specimens is predicted by application of the strain energy density theory. Maximum value of the local minimum strain energy density function is calculated, the critical value of which is assumed to coincide with failure by monotonic as well as cyclic uniaxial loading. Damage is accumulated in the specimen for each increment of monotonically rising load and each cycle of repeatedly applied load. Use is made of the incremental theory of plasticity to account for permanent deformation that is nonuniformly distributed throughout the cylindrical bar. Failure initiation site is found to occur at the center of the bar for monotonic loading where dilatation is dominant and near the specimen surface for fatigue loading where distortion is more significant. The results are consistent with the experimental observations without including microstructural effects. Nonhomogeneity caused by macro-dilatation and macro-distortion is also shown to play an important role in failure initation.     

On the measurement of residual-stress gradients in aluminum-alloy specimens

The assessment or prediction of fatigue life or strength improvement due to residual stresses requires knowledge of their magnitude and distribution. This paper presents an extension of the modified hole-drilling technique (MHDT) to the measurement of stress gradients in a biaxial-residual-stress field. This is achieved by taking a series of ‘point’ measurements and evaluating the stress profile with due consideration to the effects of hole location, the interaction between holes and the redistribution of stress due to hole drilling. An application to the measurement of residual stresses induced in 2024-T3 aluminum-alloy specimens by edge-dimpling technique is described and the method of compensation for the effect of redistribution of stress is explained. The experimental results are shown to be in good agreement with those obtained elsewhere by an analytic-numerical solution.     

Fracture mechanics applications of absorbed specific fracture energy: Notch and unnotched specimens

The Absorbed Specific Fracture Energy (ASFE)^* is an energy criterion that may be applied to evaluate the embrittlement and fracture properties of low and medium strength structural materials. Some new results are presented to illustrate the application of ASFE, and relating them to the other fracture criteria such as J_1c and K_1c. A comparison of results is made for static and dynamic loading, and the influence of neutron irradiation.     

Stress-intensity factors of hollow notched bars and hydrogen-embrittled specimens

Results of an experimental program for determining stress-intensity factors utilizing round tensile specimens are presented. Hydrogen embrittlement was utilized as a crack starter for several solid specimens. Notched hollow rounds of various geometries were tested and evaluated.     

Ultrasonic detection and measurement of fatigue cracks in notched specimens

An ultrasonic technique was developed and used to observe the formation and growth of fatigue cracks in notched cylindrical specimens subjected to reversed axial cyclic loading. Fatigue curves of life-to-initial detectable cracks as well as life-to-fracture were obtained for an aluminum-, a titanium- and a cobaltbase alloy, as well as a maraging steel. Depth of initially detectable cracks ranged between approximately 0.0005 and 0.004 in. (0.013 and 0.10 mm). Curves were also obtained relating ultrasonic system output voltage to crack depth up to 0.030 in. (0.76 mm) for three materials. These curves were used to demonstrate the capability of the device for monitoring crack growth.     

Nonlinear interface shear fracture of end notched flexure specimens

The nonlinear analytical solutions of an end notched flexure adhesive joint or fracture test specimen with identical or dissimilar adherends are investigated. In the current study, a cohesive zone model (with arbitrary nonlinear cohesive laws) based analytical solution is obtained for the interface shear fracture of an end notched flexure (ENF) specimen with sufficiently long bond length. It is found that the scatter and inconsistency in calculating Mode II toughness may be significantly reduced by this model. The present work indicates that the Mode II toughness G_IIc under pure shear cracking condition is indeed very weakly dependent on the initial crack length. And this conclusion is well supported by the experimental results found in the literature. The parametric studies show that the interface shear strength is the most dominant parameter on the critical load. It is also interesting to note that with very short initial crack length and identical interface shear strength, higher Mode II toughness indeed cannot increase the critical load. Unlike the high insensitivity of critical load to the detailed shape of the cohesive law for Mode I peel fracture, the shape of the cohesive law becomes relatively important for the critical load of joints under pure Mode II fracture conditions, especially for joints with short initial crack length. The current study may help researchers deepen the understanding of interface shear fracture and clarify some previous concepts on this fracture mode.     

Fatigue crack growth in high and low strength steel under torsional loading

During loading of a crack in mode III the crack surfaces in contact slide against each other giving rise to friction, abrasion and mutual support, thereby reducing the effective stress at the crack tip (“sliding mode crack closure”). This phenomenon was investigated in a high strength steel (AISI 4340) and in a low strength steel (AISI C1018) in circumferentially notched specimens under pure cyclic torsion and combined loading (cyclic torsion plus static axial load). The influence of sliding mode crack closure on fatigue crack propagation is shown and “true” crack growth values (without the sliding mode crack closure influence) are determined on the basis of an extrapolation procedure. Explanations are given for causes of the various fracture modes observed, such as “factory roof” fracture, macroscopically flat mode III fracture and “lamella” fracture. Finally the scientific and technical importance of sliding mode crack closure is demonstrated.     

The fatigue life estimation of notched specimens under random loading

The LY12-cz aluminium alloy sheet specimens with a central hole were tested under constant amplitude loading, Rayleigh narrow band random loading and a typical fighter broad band random loading. The fatigue life was estimated by means of the nominal stress and the Miner's rule. The stress cycles were distinguished by the rainflow count, range count and peak value count, respectively. The comparison between the estimated results and the test results was made. The effects of random loading sequence and small load cycles on fatigue life were also studied.     

Boundary element approach to creep deformation of edge notched and cracked specimens

A direct formulation of the boundary element method using a complex variable numerical approach is presented for the time-dependent inelastic stresses in edge notched and cracked creeping metallic structural components subject to high temperature gradients. Particular attention is focused on the numerical evaluation of energy rate contour integrals in single edge cracked specimens in tension. The constitutive models used in the numerical calculation are internal state variable creep–plasticity or elastic power law creep model. Numerical results are compared with solution obtained from other methods for different loading rates.     

Fatigue precracking of spin-burst toughness specimens

A hydrostatic pressure-cycling technique developed to permit controlled fatigue precracking of large spin-burst fracture-toughness specimens (disks in excess of 12 in. in diameter and 3 in. long) is described. The procedure involves localized internal-pressure cycling of the specimens by varying the hydrostatic pressure within a small “notched” hole. The technique is capable of generating hydrostatic pressures in excess of 40,000 psi at an operating frequency of one pressure cycle per second. In addition, the cyclic stresses are independent of specimen size, provided thick-wall pressure-vessel conditions exist. An ultrasonic flaw-detection technique used to measure the extent of fatigue-crack growth during cyclic loading is also described. The pertiment data associated with the fatigue precracking of eight alloy steel (σ_ys ≈ 85,000 psi) spin-burst specimens approximately 13 in. in diameter and 10 in. long are presented. The effectiveness of pressure cycling and the accuracy of the crack-monitoring technique are discussed. At a cyclic load range of 8000 to 40,000 psi, fatigue cracks on the order of 0.3 in. long were developed in approximately 60,000 cycles (17 hr). The ultrasonic crack-length-measurement technique was found to exhibit a sensitivity of 0.030 in.     

Application of a stress triaxiality dependent fracture criterion in the finite element analysis of unnotched Charpy specimens

Nonlinear dynamic finite element analysis (FEA) is conducted to simulate the fracture of unnotched Charpy specimens of steel under pendulum impact loading by a dedicated, oversized and nonstandard Bulk Fracture Charpy Machine (BFCM). The impact energy needed to fracture an unnotched Charpy specimen in a BFCM test can be two orders of magnitude higher than the typical impact energy of a Charpy V-notch specimen. To predict material failure, a phenomenological, stress triaxiality dependent fracture initiation criterion and a fracture evolution law in the form of strain softening are incorporated in the constitutive relations. The BFCM impact energy results obtained from the FEA simulations compare favorably with the corresponding experimental data. In particular, the FEA predicts accurately the correlations of the BFCM impact energy with such factors as specimen geometry, impactor tup width and material type. The analyses show that a specimen’s progressive deterioration through the thickness dimension displays a range of shear to ductile fracture modes, demonstrating the necessity of applying a stress state dependent fracture initiation criterion. Modeling the strain softening behavior helps to capture the residual load carrying capability of a ductile metal or alloy beyond the onset of damage. The total impact energy can be significantly under predicted if a softening branch is not included in the stress-strain curve. This research supports a study of the puncture failure of railroad tank cars under dynamic impact loading. Applications of the presented fracture model in failure analyses of other structures are further discussed.     

Fatigue life assessment of a high strength steel 300 M in the gigacycle regime

The fatigue behavior of a high strength steel 300 M in the gigacycle regime was investigated. Fully reversed tension — compression fatigue tests at ambient temperature were performed using an ultrasonic fatigue system operating at 20 kHz. The staircase test method was employed to obtain accurate values of the mean fatigue strength corresponding to fixed numbers of cycles up to 10⁹. These results were compared to the curve which is estimated by the data tested in the mid-long life regime on conventional servo hydraulic test machine at 20 Hz. Results indicate that the fatigue strength determined from ultrasonic fatigue testing is lightly higher than conventional testing in the range of 10⁶–10⁷ cycles. It is obvious that nucleations of fractures tend to occur below the surface, if fractures happen after more than 10⁷ cycles. All the fractured specimens fails from internal SiO₂ inclusions or smaller carbides and carbide clusters.     

Fatigue strength prediction of soda-lime glass

The fatigue life of soda-lime glass depends on the cumulative time of static fatigue because this material displays little or no crack resistance behavior. The fatigue strength data suggests that the statistical Weibull, normal or log-normal distributions could be used. In order to include the effects of loading and stress concentrators, an equivalent stress is defined and used to correlate the data. The method for predicting the fatigue strength of soda-lime glass is established on the basis of the distribution of the fatigue strength.     

High temperature sensitivity of notched AISI 304L stainless steel tests

Experiments were designed to determine the failure characteristics of AISI 304L stainless steel under different stress triaxialities and temperatures up to 70% of melt. The data show that as temperature increases the displacement to failure of notched tensile specimens increases. The complex interaction of deformation mechanisms, such as twinning and dynamic recrystallization, appears to negate the damage accumulation at higher temperatures. Microstructural analyses and finite element simulations indicate that voids nucleate, grow, and coalesce more rapidly as temperature and triaxiality increase. Finite element simulations were performed to analyze temperature dependence on the Cocks–Ashby void growth model. The finite element simulations qualitatively show a double-knee that was observed in the notched experimental specimens after loading. The combined experimental–numerical study indicates that failure can be defined at several points in the notch tests when: (1) macrovoids starts to form, (2) the load drop-off occurs, and (3) total perforation of the specimen occurs. These three points occur simultaneously in ambient conditions but occur at different displacements at higher temperatures.     

基于静强度分布参数的复合材料剩余强度及寿命预测

为探讨剩余强度及疲劳寿命与初始静强度分布参数之间的关系,构建基于初始静强度分布参数的剩余强度和疲劳寿命计算模型。在模型构建过程中未涉及复合材料结构的层数、铺层厚度和铺层方向,适应性强。模型参数可通过静力试验和剩余强度试验获得,试验成本相对疲劳试验较低。剩余强度和疲劳寿命与初始静强度变异系数及其分布参数有关,当初始静强度服从威布尔分布时,疲劳寿命亦服从威布尔分布,可为开展疲劳可靠性提供借鉴和参考。算例表明,基于建立的模型,剩余强度计算结果最大误差为-1.58%,疲劳寿命与试验数据吻合较好。     

Fatigue strength of metallic and composite materials under repeated tension-compression

The fatigue strength of metallic and composite materials under combined static and cyclic loading is analyzed. The analysis is based on limit-state models, which allow us to describe limiting-stress diagrams of all known shapes, including convex, rectilinear, S-shaped, and concave. The fatigue strength of the following materials is evaluated: carbon and alloy steels, aluminum alloys, creep-resistant nickel alloys, unidirectional composites, plastic laminates, glassfiber-reinforced plastics, and polymers. The calculated results and experimental data are in satisfactory agreement __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 48–58, January 2006.     

Fatigue strength of metals and composites under repeated high-cycle torsion

The limiting stresses are determined and constant fatigue life diagrams for high-cycle torsion with repeated stress cycle are plotted using the limiting-state models obtained based on the hypothesis of a unified constant-life diagram, which is invariant to the number of cycles to failure. The unified constant-life diagram is given by a transcendental power function whose exponent is an additional parameter characterizing the sensitivity of the material to the asymmetry of the stress cycle. The calculated results and experimental data for carbon and alloyed steels and composite materials are in good agreement __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika, Vol. 44, No. 2, pp. 19–28, February 2008.     

单轴荷载下饱水岩石静态和动态抗压强度的细观力学分析

由于单轴荷载下饱水岩石的动态力学特性与静态力学特性存在很大差异,从宏观上进行力学分析存在局限性。根据岩石受压全应力应变曲线的细观机制,分析了静态及动态单轴荷载条件下孔隙水影响饱水岩石裂纹扩展的情况。在静态单轴压缩条件下,初始裂隙受压使自由水产生孔隙水压力,自由水对翼裂纹有向外挤压的应力,促进裂纹扩展。在动态单轴压缩条件下,自由水会产生粘结力,抑制裂纹扩展。根据翼裂纹受压扩展原理,推导出饱水单轴条件下动态抗压强度、静态抗压强度的计算公式,在相同断裂韧度下,饱水岩石静态抗压强度风干岩石静态抗压强度饱水岩石动态抗压强度。对自然风干和饱水砂岩进行单轴静态、动态压缩实验,结果与理论模型的结果相符。     

Probability distribution of fracture elongation,strength and toughness of notched rectangular blocks with lognormal Young's modulus

We find analytical approximations to the probability distribution of fracture properties of one-dimensional rods and thin two-dimensional plates when Young’s modulus varies spatially as an isotropic lognormal field. The properties considered are the elongation, strength, and toughness modulus at fracture initiation and at ultimate failure. This is an extension of a previous study that, under the same conditions, dealt with the distribution of the bulk elastic moduli (Dimas et al., 2015). For all quantities at fracture initiation our approach is analytical in 1D and semi-analytical in 2D. For ultimate failure, we quantify the random effects of fracture propagation and crack arrest by fitting regression models to simulation data and combine the regressions with the distributions at fracture initiation. The results are validated through a series of Monte Carlo simulations. Through parametric analysis, we gain insight into the strengthening/weakening roles of the Euclidean dimension and size of the specimen and the variance and correlation function of the log-modulus field.