Prediction of crack growth in 350WT steel subjected to constant amplitude with over- and under-loads using a modified wheeler approach

Previous efforts have suggested that tensile overloading may cause significant crack growth retardation. On the other hand, crack growth acceleration may occur under the influence of compressive underloading. In practice, however, the effects of compressive underloading are often neglected. An experimental/analytical and computational investigation was therefore undertaken to evaluate the effects of both tensile and compressive overloading on the fatigue crack growth behavior in 350WT steel. Simplicity and accuracy in fatigue crack growth prediction is of extreme importance. One of the most commonly used models for crack growth prediction under variable amplitude loading is that of Wheeler. Unfortunately, overload effects involving compression cannot be handled by the model in its current form. Using a computational methodology, an effective plastic zone was established as a mean to incorporate the sequence effects, thus resulting in creation of a modified Wheeler approach. Fatigue life predictions provided by the revised approach/model agree reasonably well with experimental results. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.