Thermomechanical Fatigue Characterization of Three Dimensional Compact Tension Specimens Made from Steel

Abstract

When coupling with temperature is incorporated, the problem of fatigue is formulated within the general framework of thermomechanical fatigue. Considering the special case of steel structures, in addition to variations of material and fatigue parameters with temperature, fatigue damage depends on the phasing existing between the concomitant strain and temperature cycles. In this work, the extended finite element method is used to simulate crack growth under thermomechanical fatigue coupling. Assuming large cycle duration for which temperature variations can be considered to be uniform, this approach is applied in the context of linear elastic fracture mechanics for the particular case of the three dimensional Compact-Tension specimen. The objective is to attempt understanding more closely crack growth mechanism under thermomechanical loading. Characterization of fatigue was assessed as function of phasing and strain restraint.