A two parameter driving force for fatigue crack growth analysis

A model for fatigue crack growth (FCG) analysis based on the elastic-plastic crack tip stress-strain history was proposed. The fatigue crack growth was predicted by simulating the stress-strain response in the material volume adjacent to the crack tip and estimating the accumulated fatigue damage. The fatigue crack growth was regarded as a process of successive crack re-initiation in the crack tip region. The model was developed to predict the effect of the mean stress including the influence of the applied compressive stress. A fatigue crack growth expression was derived using both the plane strain and plane stress state assumption. It was found that the FCG was controlled by a two parameter driving force in the form of: Delta K = K-max(p),(tot)Delta K-tot((1-p)). The driving force was derived on the basis of the local stresses and strains at the crack tip using the Smith-Watson-Topper (SWT) fatigue damage parameter: D=sigma(max)Delta epsilon/2.The effect of the internal (residual) stress induced by the reversed cyclic plasticity was accounted for the subsequent analysis. Experimental fatigue crack growth data sets for two aluminum alloys (7075-T6 and 2024-T351) and one steel alloy (4340) were used for the verification of the model. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.