Optimization of fatigue damage indication in ferromagnetic low carbon steel

Fatigue damage was investigated by the method of magnetic adaptive testing (MAT), which is based on the systematic measurement and evaluation of minor magnetic hysteresis loops. A large number of magnetic measurements were performed on a single reference series of low carbon steel flat samples, which were fatigued by cyclic bending in an identical way, up to an increasing level of fatigue damage. The measurements of the magnetic properties of these samples were repeated under varied conditions, including speed of magnetization of the samples, sample temperature during the measurement, choice of the evaluated signal, frequency of the voltage sampling, and range of the applied amplitudes of the magnetizing field/current. Special attention was turned to the influence of the thickness of the nonferromagnetic spacers positioned between the surface of the samples and the flat fronts of the attached magnetizing yokes. On one hand, the spacers decrease the values of the induced signal and its derivatives, but on the other hand they substantially increase the reproducibility of the measurement and positively influence the shapes of the resulting degradation curves. Optimum conditions for the magnetic measurement of the fatigue damage were searched, found, and recommended. The results indicate the reliable applicability of MAT to detect early stages of the material fatigue, and to predict its residual lifetime.