Current topics of ion beam R&D Hirvonen, J.K. Surf. Coat. Technol. (1 July 1994) 65 (1–3), 84–89

Abstract

Previous papers have shown ΔKRP to be a useful parameter describing fatigue crack propagation behavior, where ΔKRP is an effective stress intensity factor range corresponding to the excess RPG load (re-tensile plastic zone's generated load) in which the retensile plastic zone appears under the loading process. In this paper, the relationship between ΔKRP and the zone size (ω̃) (which is smaller between the tensile plastic zone at maximum load and the compressive plastic zone at minimum load) was investigated using a crack opening/closing simulation model so as to consider a physical meaning of ΔKRP. As a result, it becomes clear that ΔKRP dominates the zone size ω̃ where fatigue damage mostly occurs. This result supports the following crack propagation equationwhere C and m are material constants.Simulation and fatigue crack propagation tests were then carried out for compact tension (CT), center cracked tension (CCT) and four points bend (4PB) specimens under constant amplitude loading to obtain C and m values for HT-50 steel. Fatigue crack propagation tests were also carried out under constant amplitude loading using CCT specimens with residual stress distribution due to flame gas heating at the center line or edge lines. The T specimen introduced tensile residual stress at the tip of a notch, and the C specimen introduced compressive residual stress. It therefore becomes clear that tensile residual stress leads to a decrease in RPG load, while compressive residual stress leads to increase in RPG load, and that the simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental RPG load. It also becomes clear that simulated crack growth curve using the simulated ω̃ and the above equation is in good agreement with the experimental curve. It is understood that tensile residual stress creates only a slight increase in crack propagation rate and compressive residual stress create a big decrease a crack propagation rate.