Evaluation of the fatigue crack growth rate models under the action of tensile-compressive cyclic loading

Abstract

In order to study the influence of compressive stress in cyclic load on the crack growth of the rib-to-deck joint, this paper analyzes the surface crack growth at the rib-to-deck joint under the action of overloaded vehicles based on the local three dimensional fracture mechanics model of the weld. The results show that the reverse plastic zone model is a better model to account for the effect of compressive stress in cyclic loading on the crack growth compared with the Paris Law either using the maximum tensile stress or using the full stress amplitude in cyclic loading.