Characterization of interaction effects between ductile tearing and intense fatigue cycling

Abstract

The objective of this work was to develop an initial understanding of interaction effects which occur during complex loading in the elastic-plastic regime. A simple superposition model is presented for the accumulation of crack extension from ductile tearing and intense elastic-plastic cycling. Baseline cyclic data and baseline J based resistance curve data was developed for an HSLA steel using compact specimen geometries. Then a series of specimens were tested with alternate ductile tear and intense cyclic loadings.Conclusions from the analysis of these specimens were that the cyclic crack growth rate resulting from the intense cyclic intervals is only slightly elevated by the presence of ductile tearing load steps and is very constant over cyclic growth periods of 1 mm extent showing little acceleration or decceleration due to the ductile tearing step. Also demonstrated was that the ductile tearing resistance as measured by the J integral is almost unaffected by periods of intense cyclic loading if the R ratio is small and is inceased as the R ratio approaches 0.5. Both measured effects would lead to conservative results if the simple superposition model was used to predict the plastic cycling punctuated by occasional ductile tearing steps.