Papers by Keyword: Fatigue Crack Growth Rate (da/dN)

Abstract: Crack growth in compact specimens of type 304 stainless steel is studied at 538oC. Loading conditions include pure fatigue loading, static loading and fatigue loading with hold time. Crack growth rates are correlated with the stress intensity factor. A finite element analysis is performed to understand the crack tip field under creep-fatigue loading. It is found that fatigue loading interrupts stress relaxation around the crack tip and cause stress reinstatement, thereby accelerating crack growth compared with pure static loading. An effort is made to model crack growth rates under combined influence of creep and fatigue loading. The correlation with the stress intensity factor is found better when da/dt is used instead of da/dN. Both the linear summation rule and the dominant damage rule overestimate crack growth rates under creep-fatigue loading. A model is proposed to better correlate crack growth rates under creep-fatigue loading: 1 c f da da da dt dt dt Ψ −Ψ     =         , where Ψ is an exponent determined from damage under pure fatigue loading and pure creep loading. This model correlates crack growth rates for relatively small loads and low stress intensity factors. However, correlation becomes poor as the crack growth rate becomes large under a high level of load.

Abstract: A clear understanding of fatigue properties for the pipeline steel and its weld is important to provide information for pipeline design during pipeline construction and predict pipeline fatigue life during pipeline operation. The materials used in this study are API 5L X65 pipeline steel generally used for natural gas transmission. This pipeline was welded by gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) and shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) with V-groove configuration. The fatigue crack growth behaviors of pipeline steel and its girth weld according to crack growth directions and stress ratios were investigated over a wide range of stress intensities in laboratory air.

Abstract: Single phase bainite structure which is obtained by the conventional austempering treatment reduces the ductility of ductile cast iron. Because of the reduction of ductility it is possible to worsen the fatigue properties. Therefore, semi austempered ductile iron which is treated from
+ϒ is prepared to investigate the static strength and fatigue properties in comparison with fully austempered ductile iron (is treated from ϒ). In spite of semi austempered ductile iron shows the 86% increase of ductility. Also, semi austempered ductile iron shows the higher fatigue limit and lower fatigue crack growth rate as compared with fully austempered ductile iron. By the fractographical analysis, it is revealed that the ferrite obtained by semi austempering process brings about the plastic deformation(ductile striation) of crack tip and gives the prior path of crack propagation. The relatively low crack growth rate in semi austempered specimen is caused by above fractographical reasons

Abstract: Effect of nitriding on fatigue crack initiation and growth rate has been studied on Ni-Cr-Mo steel. Specimens were nitrided for 15hr at 680°C. The fatigue limit of nitrided specimens were superior to those of annealed(680°C, 15 hr) specimens. Based on detailed observations of slip band and micro crack initiation, it is concluded that the excellent fatigue limit of nitrided specimens is attributed to improved slip initiation resistance by nitriding. The characteristic of fatigue crack growth rate of nitrided specimens was investigated by comparing with those of annealed specimens. It was found that by nitriding the crack growth rate was markedly decreased and the threshold stress intensity factor range was improved. It is concluded that the excellent fatigue limit of nitrided specimens is also attributed to improved fatigue crack growth rate and threshold stress intensity factor range by nitriding.

Abstract: Various hold periods in a cyclic wave of fatigue load were introduced to investigate loading frequency effects on crack growth behavior and microstructural damage. The crack growth path and microstructural damage characteristics at 600°C in tempered martensitic 9Cr-2W (P92) HAZ of welded steel were studied. Generally, low frequency effect with increasing hold periods affects microstructural damage with microvoids/cavities nucleation due to the effect of creep. Results showed that the fatigue crack growth behavior was sensitive to the loading frequency. As frequency decreased, the fatigue crack growth rate increased and the crack path mode changed from transgranular to intergranular in terms of microstructural damage. As the loading frequency decreased, it was found that the microvoids /cavities and microcracks that formed along the prior austenite grain boundaries ahead of the main crack contributed to the intergranular crack growth.

Abstract: Impact properties and fatigue crack growth behavior of a newly developed Al-Zn-Mg functionally graded material (FGM) is studied. The gradient in terms of hardness (about 85 to 130 VHN) and yield strength (about 260 to 360 MPa) is established along the width of the Charpy-impact and Compact Tension specimens. In both these test specimens two types of FGMs, depending on the direction of crack propagation, are produced. In the first case, FGM-I, the notched surface is made harder and the hardness value decreases towards the other surface in the direction of crack growth. In the second case, FGM-II, the hardness gradient is reversed and the crack propagation takes place from the softer side to the harder side. The impact and fatigue crack growth experiments are also carried out for the homogeneous materials with different hardness values and the results obtained from the FGMs are compared with them. The results of impact tests show that FGM-II absorbs about 20% greater energy than the highest energy absorbed by any of the isothermally aged homogeneous materials. Fatigue crack growth studies for the FGM-I show a reduction in crack growth rate as the crack propagates towards softer (ductile) side and finally crack arrest is observed. On the other hand, for the case of FGM-II, where the crack propagates towards the harder side, the crack growth rate first increases and then decreases. However, in this case the crack follows a tortuous path and it starts bending upwards after about 20 mm crack length, which might be responsible for higher energy absorption in impact tests.

Abstract: Crack turning or delamination behavior of AA 2050-T87 and AA 7050-T7451 ESE(T) and hourglass coupons under cyclic fatigue conditions is presented. Fatigue crack growth rate curves, fracture surface examinations, and the preferred manner of crack growth for each alloy are discussed in an effort to better understand fatigue crack growth behavior of aluminum-lithium alloys in structural components under service conditions.

Abstract: The crack growth behavior in a 304 stainless steel has been investigated at 538°C in air environment. Compact tension specimens were subjected to fatigue, creep and creep-fatigue loading. The combined effects on crack growth rates of load level and hold time have been examined. Stress intensity factors are found to correlate crack growth rates reasonably well for fatigue crack growth. Creep crack growth rates are found to correlate with stress intensity factor and C*(t). Crack growth rates under hold time cycles are successfully correlated with C*(t)avg under various load levels and hold times. Crack growth under creep-fatigue loading has been simulated by elastic-plastic-steady state creep finite element analyses. The results of analysis show that fatigue loading interrupts stress relaxation around the crack tip during hold time and causes stress reinstatement, thereby giving rise to accelerated crack growth compared with crack growth under static loading. Analysis of hold time crack growth based on the cyclic stress-strain response yields crack closure during unloading, and creep deformation during hold time tends to lower the closure load.