Modeling of Fatigue Crack Growth Closure Considering the Integrative Effect of Cyclic Stress Ratio,Specimen Thickness and Poisson's Ratio

Key components of large structures in aeronautics industry are required to be made light and have long enough fatigue lives.It is of vital importance to estimate the fatigue life of these structures accurately.Since the FCG process is affected by various factors,no universal model exists due to the complexity of the mechanisms.Most of the existing models are obtained by fitting the experimental data and could hardly describe the integrative effect of most existing factors simultaneously.In order to account for the integrative effect of specimen parameters,material property and loading conditions on FCG process,a new model named integrative influence factor model（IIF） is proposed based on the plasticity-induced crack closure theory.Accordingly to the predictions of crack opening ratio（γ） and effective stress intensity factor range ratio（U） with different material under various loading conditions,predictions of γ and U by the IIF model are completely identical to the theoretical results from the plane stress state to the plane strain state when Poisson＇s ratio equals 1/3.When Poisson＇s ratio equals 0.3,predictions of γ and U by the IIF model are larger than the predictions by the existing model,and more close to the theoretical results.In addition,it describes the influence of R ratios on γ and U effectively in the whole region from-1.0 to 1.0.Moreover,several sets of test data of FCG rates in 5 kinds of aluminum alloys with various specimen thicknesses under different loading conditions are used to validate the IIF model,most of the test data are situated on the predicted curves or between the two curves that represent the specimen with different thicknesses under the same stress ratio.Some of the test data slightly departure from the predictions by the IIF model due to the surface roughness and errors in measurement.Besides,based on the analysis of the physical rule of crack opening ratios,a relative thickness of specimen is defined to describe the influence of material property,specimen thickness and so forth on FCG characteristics conveniently.In conclusion,the relative thickness of specimen simplifies the expression of FCG characteristic and provides a general parameter to analyze the fatigue characteristics of different materials with various thicknesses under different loading conditions.The IIF model describes the integrative effect of existing influence factors explicitly and quantitatively,and provides a helpful tool for fatigue property estimation of practical component and experiment design.

Fatigue behavior and cumulative damage rule of concrete under cycli ccompression with constant confined stress

The effects of different lateral confinement stress on the fatigue behavior and cumulative damage of plain concrete were investigated experimentally. Eighty 100mm×100mm×100mm specimens of ordinary strength concrete were tested with constant-or variable-amplitude cyclic compression and lateral confinement pressure in two orthogonal directions. A fatigue equation was gained by modifying the classical Aas-Jakobsen S-N equation and used for taking into account the effect of the confined stress on fatigue strength of plain concrete. The present study indicates that the fatigue failure is greatly influenced by the sequence of applied variable-amplitude fatigue loading, and Miner’s rule is inapplicable to predict the residual fatigue life, especially in the sequence of low to high. The present research also shows that the exponent d of the Corten-Dolan’s damage formula is a constant depending on the materials and the levels of load spectrum, and d can be determined through the two-stage fatigue tests. The residual fatigue lives predicted by Corten-Dolan’s damage formula are found to be in good agreement with the results of the experiments.

Study on Fatigue Lifetimes and Their Variation of Mg Alloy AZ61 at Various Stress Ratios

In this study, fatigue tests under different R ratios were conducted on the AZ61 Mg alloy to investigate its fatigue lifetimes and fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior. The fracture surface of the failed specimens was investigated using a scanning electron microscope to study the size of the intermetallic compounds from which the pioneer fatigue crack initiated and led to the final failure of the specimen. To determine the maximum size of the intermetallic compounds existing within the cross section of the specimen at higher risk, Gumbel’s extreme-value statistics were utilized. In the present study, the intermetallic compounds contained within the specimen were assumed to be the initial cracks existing in the material before the fatigue tests. A modified linear elastic fracture-mechanics parameter, M, proposed by McEvily et al., was used to analyze the short FCG behavior under different stress ratios, R. The relation between the rate of FCG and M parameter was found to be useful and appropriate for predicting the fatigue lifetimes under different R ratios. Moreover, the probabilistic stress-fatigue life (P-S-N) curve of the material under different R ratios could be predicted with this method, which utilizes both the FCG law and a statistical distribution of sizes of the most dangerous intermetallic compounds. The evaluated results were in good agreement with the experimental ones. This correspondence indicates that the estimation method proposed in the present study is effective for evaluation of the probabilistic stress-fatigue life (P-S-N) curve of the material under different R ratios.

Design and Analysis of Tapered Stress Joint for Top Tensioned Riser System

Stress Joint （SJ） plays a key role in the Top Tensioned Riser （TTR） system for deep water engineering. A preliminary design method of tapered SJ is proposed in the paper, which could help designers obtain accurate design data. After a further sensitive analysis is carried out, the related parameters choice and control methods are recommended in the engineering practice. By taking the extreme environment conditions into consideration, the effects of bending stress reduction and curve control are analyzed, and the 3-D FE models are established by ABQOUS for numerical evaluation to verify the correctness of design results. At last, dynamic analysis and fatigue analysis, based on actual project, are carried out with designed stress joint. The analysis results prove the feasibility and guidance of this method in the practical engineering applications.

Cyclic deformation behaviors of Ti-46Al-2Cr-2Nb-0.15B alloy during thermo-mechanical fatigue tests

Thermo-mechanical fatigue tests were carried out on the gamma-TiAl alloy in the temperature range of 500-800℃ under mechanical strain control m order to evaluate its cyclic deformation behaviors at elevated temperature. Cyclic deformation curves, stress-strain hysteresis loops under different temperature--strain cycles were analyzed and dislocation configurations were also observed by TEM. The mechanisms of cyclic hardening or softening during thermo-mechanical fatigue （TMF） tests were also discussed. Results showed that thermo-mechanical fatigue lives largely depended on the applied mechanical strain amplitudes, applied types of strain and temperature. On the hysteresis loops appeared two apparent asymmetries： one was zero asymmetry and the other was tensile and compressive asymmetry. Dislocations configuration and slip behaviors were contributed to cyclic hardening or cyclic softening.

An Integrated Approach to Fatigue Life Prediction of Whole System for Offshore Platforms

The failure of one or even more components usually does riot lead to the collapse of the whole structure. Most of the analysis of fatigue is centered on only a single component which the researchers are interested in or Much attention should be paid to. However, the collapse of a structure is the result of failure of a series of components in a specific order or path. This paper proposes an integrated approach to fatigue life prediction of whole structural system for offshore platforms, mainly describing the basic principles and prediction method. A method is presented for determining the failure path of the whole structure system and calculating the fatigue life in the determined failure path, The corresponding final collapse criteria for the whole structure system are discussed, A simple method of equivalent fatigue stress range calculation and a mathematical model of structural component fatigue life estimation in consideration of sea wave and sea ice loads are provided. As an application of the proposed approach, a fixed production platform Bohai No. 8 is chosen for the predication of fatigue life of the whole structure system by means of the software OSFAC developed based on the present methods.

New model of propagation rates of long crack due to structure fatigue

By comparison of the characteristics of existing models for long fatigue crack propagation rates, a new model, called the generalized passivation-lancet model for long fatigue crack propagation rates （GPLFCPR）, and a general formula for characterizing the process of crack growth rates are proposed based on the passivation-lancet theory. The GPLFCPR model overcomes disadvantages of the existing models and can describe the rules of the entire fatigue crack growth process from the cracking threshold to the critical fracturing point effectively with explicit physical meaning. It also reflects the influence of material characteristics, such as strength parameters, fracture parameters and heat treatment. Experimental results obtained by testing LZ50 steel, AlZnMgCu0.5, 0.5Cr0.5Mo0.25V steel, etc., show good consistency with the new model. The GPLFCPR model is valuable in theoretical research and practical applications.

Low-cycle fatigue behavior of permanent mold cast and die-cast Al-Si-Cu-Mg alloys

Fatigue failure is one of the main failure forms of Al-Si-Cu-Mg aluminum alloys. To feature their mechanical aspect of fatigue behavior, the low-cycle fatigue behavior of permanent mold cast and die-cast AI-Si- Cu-Mg alloys at room temperature was investigated. The experimental results show that both permanent mold cast and die-cast AI-Si-Cu-Mg alloys mainly exhibit cyclic strain hardening. At the same total strain amplitude, the diecast AI-Si-Cu-Mg alloy shows higher cyclic deformation resistance and longer fatigue life than does the permanent mold cast AI-Si-Cu-Mg alloy. The relationship between both elastic and plastic strain amplitudes with reversals to failure shows a monotonic linear behavior, and can be described by the Basquin and Coffin-Manson equations, respectively.

Low cycle fatigue behavior of die cast Mg-Al-Mn-Ce magnesium alloy

Fatigue failure is a main failure mode for magnesium and other alloys. It is beneficial for fatigue design and fatigue life improvement to investigate the low cycle fatigue behavior of magnesium alloys. In order to investigate the low cycle fatigue behavior of die cast Mg-AI-Mn-Ce magnesium alloy, the strain controlled fatigue experiments were performed at room temperature and fatigue fracture surfaces of specimens were observed with scanning election microscopy for the alloys under die-cast and aged states. Cyclic stress response curves, strain amplitude versus reversals to failure curve, total strain amplitude versus fatigue life curves and cyclic stress-strain curves of Mg-AI-Mn-Ce alloys were analyzed. The results show that the Mg-AI-Mn-Ce alloys under die-cast （F） and aged （T5） states exhibit cyclic strain hardening under the applied total strain amplitudes, and aging treatment could greatly increase the cyclic stress amplitudes of die cast Mg-AI-Mn-Ce alloys. The relationships between the plastic strain amplitude, the elastic strain amplitude and reversals to failure of Mg-AI-Mn-Ce magnesium alloy under different treatment states could be described by Coffin-Manson and Basquin equations, respectively. Observations on the fatigue fracture surface of specimens reveal that the fatigue cracks initiate on the surface of specimens and propagate transgranularly.

疲劳分析软件MSC Fatigue的工程应用

为实现交叉杆的疲劳寿命预测,应用实测载荷和材料数据,进行有限元的应力分析,采用名义应力法,基于MSC Fatigue进行交叉杆的疲劳寿命预测,与交叉杆的实际使用寿命较为吻合.表明基于虚拟疲劳设计软件的疲劳设计方法合理可行,为交叉杆的结构优化设计和疲劳寿命预测提供参考.

A GENERAL CONSTITUTIVE RELATION FOR FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH ANALYSIS OF METAL STRUCTURES

Crack growth rate curves are the fundamental material property for metal structures under fatigue loading. Although there are many crack growth rate curves available in the literature, few of them showed the capability to explain various special phenomena observed in tests. A modified constitutive relation recently proposed by McEvily and his co-workers showed very promising capability. This modified constitutive relation is further generalized by (1) introducing an unstable fracture condition; (2) defining a virtual strength to replace the yield stress; and (3) defining an overload and underload parameter. The performances of this general constitutive relation for fatigue crack growth is extensively studied and it is found that this general constitutive relation is able to explain various phenomena observed with particular strong capability on load sequence effect.

Fatigue Reliability Assessment of Correlated Welded Web-frame Joints

The objective of this work is to analyze the fatigue reliability of complex welded structures composed of multiple web-frame joints, accounting for correlation effects. A three-dimensional finite element model using the 20-node solid elements is generated. A linear elastic finite element analysis was performed, hotspot stresses in a web-frame joint were analyzed and fatigue damage was quantified employing the S-N approach. The statistical descriptors of the fatigue life of a non-correlated web-frame joint containing several critical hotspots were estimated. The fatigue reliability of a web-frame joint wasmodeled as a series system of correlated components using the Ditlevsen bounds. The fatigue reliability of the entire welded structure with multiple web-frame joints, modeled as a parallel system of non-correlated web-frame joints was also calculated.

Enhance liquid nitrogen fracturing performance on hot dry rock by cyclic injection

Producing complex fracture networks in a safe way plays a critical role in the hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal energy exploitation. However, conventional hydraulic fracturing (HF) generally produces high breakdown pressure and results only in single main fracture morphology. Furthermore, HF has also other problems such as the increased risk of seismic events and consuption of large amount of water. In this work, a new stimulation method based on cyclic soft stimulation (CSS) and liquid nitrogen (LN2) fracturing, known as cyclic LN2 fracturing is explored, which we believe has the potential to solve the above issues related to HF. The fracturing performances including breakdown pressure and fracture morphology on granites under true-triaxial stresses are investigated and compared with cyclic water fracturing. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) tests and X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning tests were used for quantitative characterization of fracture parameters and to evaluate the cyclic LN2 fracturing performances. The results demonstrate that the cyclic LN2 fracturing results in reduced breakdown pressure, with between 21% and 67% lower pressure compared with using cyclic water fracturing. Cyclic LN2 fracturing tends to produce more complex and branched fractures, whereas cyclic water fracturing usually produces a single main fracture under a low number of cycles and pressure levels. Thermally-induced fractures mostly occur around the interfaces of different particles. This study shows the potential benefits of cyclic LN2 fracturing on HDR. It is expected to provide theoretical guidance for the cyclic LN2 fracturing application in HDR reservoirs.

Finite Element Analysis of the Base

This paper describes the structure of the base,on which two working arms are installed simultaneously.To ensure structura safety,the fatigue failure analysis and statics analysis are finished using the finite element method.The calculation can make sure that the structure of the base meets the design standard,and the material can be reduced one grade.

A CONFUSION IN THE APPLICATION OF DISTORTION ENERGY THEORY TO MULTIAXIAL FATIGUE FAILURE PREDICTION

In the application of distortion energy theory to multiaxial fatigue prediction problems,it isquite frequent to meet with a confusion in the evaluation of the extremum values of equivalentstresses.In this paper,a description about this error is presented and discussed thereafter.Neces-sary correction has been made towards this problem.

EH36钢焊接接头焊趾处应力集中对高低周复合疲劳的影响

为研究船舶结构用钢EH36钢焊接接头焊趾处应力集中对高低周复合疲劳的影响,对不同焊缝形貌20 mm厚EH36钢双面全熔透对接接头进行高低周复合疲劳试验.研究发现,高低周复合疲劳对接头寿命的降低幅度随着高周应力比的增大而增大;结合数字图像相关法测量结果分析,发现焊趾处应力集中系数越大,接头的高低周复合疲劳寿命越低,其降低幅度随着高周应力比的增大而增大.基于试验数据对模型进行验证,结果表明,应力集中系数高的接头疲劳寿命低且寿命预测结果分散性增大;Palmgren-Miner模型和Zhu模型由于未充分考虑高低周耦合损伤作用,导致寿命预测结果相对危险.修正后Zhu模型在充分考虑低周疲劳对高低周复合疲劳寿命的影响后,预测寿命大于实际寿命的预测点较少,预测结果相对安全,且分散性较小,误差也较小.

车辆荷载作用下钢-混凝土组合梁疲劳应力分析

【目的】随着桥梁服役期延长和车辆荷载增加等多种因素的影响,结构承载力会变得越来越弱,疲劳寿命不断降低,最终可能导致低应力疲劳破坏。因此有必要对车辆荷载下拱桥钢混组合梁的疲劳细节应力进行研究。【方法】采用数值模拟的方法,利用Midas FEA NX软件建立3个标准长度的三维实体精细有限元模型,分析钢混组合梁易损疲劳关键点的位置,并研究车辆荷载横向最不利加载位置和纵向加载下的疲劳细节应力变化规律。【结果】结果表明,组合梁次横梁与中纵梁交点处有三处疲劳关键点;靠近桥梁中线位置是车辆荷载下钢梁疲劳最不利的横向加载位置;四种不同标准的纵向车辆加载时,三个疲劳关键点均出现两次应力峰值,且最大应力幅值均低于常幅疲劳强度的极限值。【结论】研究成果可为钢-混凝土组合梁试验和相关研究提供参考。

基于主S-N曲线法的焊接结构虚拟疲劳试验理论与应用

讨论了焊接结构虚拟疲劳试验技术的必要性与可行性.围绕美国机械工程师协会ASME(2007)标准中公开发表的用于焊接结构疲劳寿命评估的一个新方法:主S-N曲线法,进行了理论探讨,并认为它是基于焊接结构疲劳破坏机理的,因而比基于名义应力的方法更适合被选择为焊接结构虚拟疲劳试验的核心算法.介绍了两个典型的工程应用案例.结果表明,在设计阶段,基于主S-N曲线的焊接结构虚拟疲劳试验技术,可以有效地识别复杂焊接结构上每一条焊缝上的应力集中,这对设计修改具有很好的指导意义.

Al-Si-Cu-Mg(-Er)铸造铝合金的低周疲劳行为

对金属型铸造Al-Si-Cu-Mg和Al-Si-Cu-Mg-Er铝合金进行了疲劳试验,并研究了其室温下的低周疲劳行为。试验结果表明:金属型铸造Al-Si-Cu-Mg和Al-Si-Cu-Mg-Er铝合金表现为循环应变硬化和循环稳定,主要取决于外加总应变的高低;稀土元素Er的加入可提高金属型铸造Al-Si-Cu-Mg合金的循环变形抗力和疲劳寿命;金属型铸造Al-Si-Cu-Mg合金的塑性应变、弹性应变与断裂时的载荷反向次数之间呈直线关系,Al-Si-Cu-Mg-Er合金的弹性应变与疲劳断裂时的载荷反向次数之间也呈直线关系,但其塑性应变与疲劳断裂时的载荷反向次数之间则呈双线性关系。

热处理对Al-Si-Cu-Mg铸造铝合金低周疲劳行为的影响

为了确定固溶处理及固溶+时效处理对金属型铸造Al-Si-Cu-Mg铝合金低周疲劳行为的影响,在不同外加总应变幅下进行应变控制的室温低周疲劳试验。结果表明:金属型铸造Al-Si-Cu-Mg铝合金可表现为循环应变硬化、循环应变软化和循环稳定;固溶处理及固溶+时效处理可以有效地提高金属型铸造Al-Si-Cu-Mg铝合金的疲劳寿命,且固溶处理对疲劳寿命提高的幅度更大;铸态及固溶态Al-Si-Cu-Mg铝合金的弹性应变幅、塑性应变幅与疲劳断裂时的载荷反向周次之间分别呈直线关系,固溶+时效态Al-Si-Cu-Mg铝合金的弹性应变幅与疲劳断裂时的载荷反向周次之间呈直线关系,但其塑性应变幅与疲劳断裂时的载荷反向周次之间呈双线性关系;不同处理状态的铸造Al-Si-Cu-Mg铝合金的循环应力幅与塑性应变幅之间呈线性关系。