Fatigue behavior of a nodular cast iron subjected to a variable amplitude strain-based load spectrum applied in bench tests of an Off-highway axle

Abstract

Nodular cast irons are commonly adopted in off-highway applications, owing to the possibility to shape complex components and to guarantee good mechanical properties. In the fatigue strength assessment of axles made of nodular cast irons, engineers have to deal with external loads that turn into local strain spectra at the fatigue crack initiation zones, which are usually located in areas weakened by notched geometrical details. Moreover, off-highway axles are subjected to variable amplitude load histories during their service life; during the design phase, the field load histories are usually applied to the axles in the form of simplified bench load spectra. In this paper, the mechanical properties of EN-GJS-500-7 have been investigated through static tensile tests and strain-controlled fatigue tests performed on specimens with machined surface extracted from an axle. Furthermore, a local strain-based spectrum has been derived by means of strain gauges which have been applied at the failure location of the axle during the bench tests. Finally, the damage index to failure relevant to the simplified bench load spectrum has been calculated by adopting Miner's linear damage rule and the Smith, Watson and Topper mean stress corrected life equation.