Fatigue Crack Monitoring Using Image Correlation

A novel methodology based on a combination of experimental and analytical methods is used for monitoring the stress intensity factor in fatigue cracks subjected to constant amplitude loads. Full-field displacement information is fitted, following a multi-point over-deterministic approach, to an analytical model. This is developed from Muskhelishvili’s complex formulation. The methodology allowed accurate monitoring of the stress intensity factor during three fatigue cycles when small-scale yielding conditions were achieved. Moreover for larger loads where important plastic deformation occurs around the crack tip, Dugdale’s correction accounted for the differences between theoretical and calculated stress intensity factors. Accordingly the tool provides an indirect approach for measuring crack tip plasticity. Due to the fact that image correlation is relatively simple to use and is a non-contacting technique, the approach pioneered in this work seems ideal for monitoring fatigue cracks in industrial applications.