Mixed mode fatigue crack growth predictions

Abstract This work is aimed at developing a predictive capability for the quantitative assessment of crack growth under fatigue loadings. The crack growth rate relation, Δa ΔN , may involve all three stress intensity factors k 1 -k 3 such that the direction of crack growth may not be known in advance and must be predicted from a preassumed criterion. In principle, both the stress amplitude and the mean stress level should be included in the original expression for Δa ΔN . The strain energy density factor range, ΔS , is found to be a convenient parameter for predicting fatigue crack growth and can be applied expediently to examine the combined influence of crack geometry, complex loadings and material properties. Assumed is the accumulation of energy, ΔW ΔV , stored in an element ahead of the crack which triggers subcritical crack growth upon reaching a number of loading cycle, say ΔN . The proposed δa ΔN relationship includes both the stress amplitude and mean stress effects.