Abstract
This study proposes a new theory of fatigue crack growth in ductile solids based on the total plastic energy dissipation per cycle ahead of the crack. The fundamental hypothesis of the theory proposes a unified criterion for crack extension under monotonic and fatigue loading, so that the fatigue crack growth rate is given explicitly in terms of the total plastic dissipation per cycle and the monotonic plane stress or plane strain fracture toughness of the material. The total plastic dissipation per cycle is obtained herein by 2-D elastic–plastic finite element analysis of a stationary crack under constant amplitude, mode I loading (C(T) specimen geometry). Both elastic–perfectly plastic and bi-linear kinematic hardening constitutive behaviors are considered, and numerical results for a dimensionless plastic dissipation per cycle are presented over the full range of relevant mechanical properties and loading conditions. Finally, the results of the current theory are compared to measured Paris-regime crack growth data for a variety of ductile metals, as well as dissipated energy measurements previously reported in the literature.
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