ON THE CONFIGURATION OF A PROPAGATING SURFACE FATIGUE CRACK

The configuration assumed by a semi-elliptical surface crack as it propagates into a thick plate under fatigue loading is relevant both to fracture testing practice and to fundamental understanding of the fatigue process. It has not been possible to delineate this configuration completely by nondestructive experimental techniques, and therefore an analytical model of the process is essential to its understanding. The present paper proposes such a model and uses previously published experimental data in calculating the changing surface crack configuration in fatigue cycled 4340 steel. The results predict that a surface crack will tend to grow more shallow in relation to its length with increased fatigue cycling.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Published in Applied Scientific Research, V25, pp 26-34, November 1971
• Corporate Authors:

  Southwest Research Institute

  Department of Instrumentation Research, 8500 Culebra Road
  San Antonio, TX  United States  78284
• Authors:
  • Francis, P H
• Publication Date: 1970-12-30

Media Info

• Pagination: 10 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cracking; Fatigue cracking; Fatigue tests; Fracture mechanics
• Uncontrolled Terms: Crack propagation
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00034880
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: AFOSR-TR-72-1022
• Contract Numbers: AF49(638)-1502
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 27 1972 12:00AM