The Performance of Small Diameter Aluminum Light Support Structures Containing Handholes under Cyclic Fatigue

Aluminum light poles play a pivotal role in modern infrastructure, ensuring proper illumination along highways and in populated areas during nighttime. These poles typically feature handholes near their bases, providing access to electrical wiring for installation and maintenance. While essential for functionality, these handholes introduce a vulnerability to the overall structure, making them a potential failure point. Although prior research and analyses on aluminum light poles have been conducted, the behavior of smaller diameter poles containing handholes remains unexplored. Recognizing this need, a research team at the University of Akron undertook a comprehensive experimental program involving aluminum light poles with handholes containing welded inserts in order to gain a better understanding of their fatigue life, mechanical behavior, and failure mechanisms. The research involved testing seven large-scale aluminum light poles each 8-inch diameter, with two separate handholes. These handholes included a reinforcement that was welded to the poles. Finite Element Analysis (FEA), statistical analysis, and comparison analysis with their large counterparts (10-inch diameter) were used to augment the experimental results. The results revealed two distinct failure modes: progressive crack propagation leading to ultimate failure, and rupture of the pole near the weld initiation/termination site around the handhole. The comparison analysis indicated that the 8-inch diameter specimens exhibited an average fatigue life exceeding that of their 10-inch counterparts by an average of 30.7%. The experimental results were plotted alongside the fatigue detail classifications outlined in the Aluminum Design Manual (ADM), enhancing understanding of the fatigue detail category of the respective poles/handholes.

INVESTIGATION OF FRACTURE DESIGN FOR MEDIUM CARBON STEEL UNDER EXTRA-LOW CYCLIC FATIGUE IN AXIAL LOADING

The extra-low cyclic fracture problem of medium carbon steel under axial fatigue loading was investigated. Several problems, such as the relations of the cycle times to the depth and tip radius of the notch, loading frequency, loading range and the parameters of fracture design for medium carbon steel on condition of extra-low axial fatigue loading were discussed based on the experiments. Experimental results indicated that the tension-pressure fatigue loading mode was suitable for extra-low cyclic fatigue fracture design of medium carbon steel and it resulted in low energy consumption, fracture surface with high quality, low cycle times, and high efficiency. The appropriate parameters were as follows： loading frequency 3-5 Hz, notch tip radius r = （0.2-0.3） mm, opening angle α = 60°, and notch depth t = （0.14-0.17）D.

A CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC MODEL FOR THE ORIENTATION DEPENDENCE OF LOW CYCLIC FATIGUE PROPERTY OF A NICKEL-BASE SINGLE CRYSTAL SUPERALLOY

Fully reversed low cyclic fatigue (LCF) tests were conducted on [0 0 1], [0 1 2], [(1) over bar 1 2], [0 1 1] and [(1) over bar 1 4] oriented single crystals of nickel-bared superalloy DD3 with different cyclic strain rates at 950 degrees C. The cyclic strain rates were chosen as 1.0 x 10(-2), 1.33 x 10(-3) and 0.33 x 10(-3) s(-1). The octahedral slip systems were confirmed to be activated on all the specimens. The experimental result shows that the fatigue behavior depends an the crystallographic orientation and cyclic strain rate. Except [0 0 1] orientation specimens, it is found from the scanning electron microscopy(SEM) examination that there are typical fatigue striations on the fracture surfaces. These fatigue striations are made up of cracks. The width of the fatigue striations depends on the crystallographic orientation and varies with the total strain range. A simple linear relationship exists between the width and total shear strain range modified by an orientation and strain rate parameter. The nonconformity to the Schmid law of tensile/compressive flaw stress and plastic behavior existed at 95 degrees C, and an orientation and strain rate modified Lall-Chin-Pope ( LCP) model was derived for the nonconformity. The influence of crysrallographic orientation and cyclic strain rate on the LCF behavior can be predicted satisfactorily by the model. In terms of an orientation and strain rate modified total strain range, a model for fatigue life was proposed and used successfully to correlate the fatigue lives studied.

Low cyclic fatigue behavior of electron-beam-welded Ti–6Al–4V titanium joint

The low cycle fatigue（LCF） tests were carried out using symmetrical cyclic loading under total strain amplitude control conditions.The present paper is devoted to investigating the cyclic deformation response of Ti–6Al–4V titanium and the electron-beam-welded（EBW） joint in the following aspects,i.e.,cyclic deformation behavior,fatigue life and fatigue fracture behavior.The results show that the softening of the joint is significant at larger strain ranges,while not obvious at smaller strain ranges.The joint shows shorter fatigue life at larger strain ranges and equivalent fatigue life at smaller strain ranges compared with Ti–6Al–4V base metal.A fatigue crack of the joint not only originates at the surface or subsurface,but also at defects in the fusion zone（FZ）.The crack propagation zone of Ti–6Al–4V base metal shows ductile fracture mechanism,while the joint shows brittle fracture mechanism.In all the fatigue fracture zones many dimples appear,showing the typical ductile fracture.

Atomic-Scale Insights into Damage Mechanisms of GGr15 Bearing Steel Under Cyclic Shear Fatigue

Alternating shear stress is a critical factor in the accumulation of damage during rolling contact fatigue,severely limiting the service life of bearings.However,the specific mechanisms responsible for the cyclic shear fatigue damage in bearing steel have not been fully understood.Here the mechanical response and microstructural evolution of a model GGr15 bearing steel under cyclic shear loading are investigated through the implementation of molecular dynamics simulations.The samples undergo 30 cycles under three different loading conditions with strains of 6.2%,9.2%,and 12.2%,respectively.The findings indicate that severe cyclic shear deformation results in early cyclic softening and significant accumulation of plastic damage in the bearing steel.Besides,samples subjected to higher strain-controlled loading exhibit higher plastic strain energy and shorter fatigue life.Additionally,strain localization is identified as the predominant damage mechanism in cyclic shear fatigue of the bearing steel,which accumulates and ultimately results in fatigue failure.Furthermore,simulation results also revealed the microstructural reasons for the strain localization(e.g.,BCC phase transformation into FCC and HCP phase),which well explained the formation of white etching areas.This study provides fresh atomic-scale insights into the mechanisms of cyclic shear fatigue damage in bearing steels.

Damage and Fatigue Failure of Conventional and Bulk-Filled Resin Composites

Objectives: Resin-based composites are the most widely used dental restorative materials. Bulk-fill resin composites are of rising interest as they can be clinically applied in thicker increments compared to conventional composites. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the flexural fatigue strength of a conventional and bulk-filled resin composite placed incrementally or non-incrementally. Methods: Resin composite specimens were fabricated using either a conventional (Brilliant EverGlow?) or a bulk-fill (Fill-Up!TM) resin composite by either non-incremental filling (2 × 2 × 25 mm3) or in increments of (1 × 2 × 25 mm3). Specimens were stored in distilled water for 24 h or thermocycled for 5000 cycles. The static flexural strength (σ), flexural fatigue limit (FFL) after 105 cycles and post-fatigue flexural strength (PFσ) were measured. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, with a post-hoc Tukey’s test to compare mean FFL (p σ and PFσ compared to conventional composites regardless of incremental cure or thermocycling (p σ and FFL for conventional composites but not bulk-filled composites. There was no significant difference in PFσ compared to σ after 24 h storage, but a significant increase in PFσ after thermocycling (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The type of composite rather than incremental placement had a greater effect on flexural strength, suggesting that operator placement technique had less influence than material selection. Thermocycling in combination with cyclic loading caused a strengthening effect in the composites, likely due to the absorption and dissipation of stresses, thereby enhancing resistance to fracture.

Fatigue Behaviour of Metal Matrix Composites

Based mainly on the work done at the authors' laboratory in recent years,this paper examines what is currently known about the cyclic deformation and fatigue properties of metal matrix composites, with particular emphasis on discontinuous fiber (whisker or particulate)-reinforced Al composites. The following items are discussed:fatigue strength and life,cyclic deformation and microstructural evolution,microcrack initiation and growth,fatigue crack propagation behaviour.