Dissipation and Thermoelastic Coupling Associated with Fatigue of Materials

The fatigue behaviour is examined in terms of calorimetric effects. Aluminum alloy and steel have been chosen as reference materials. Heat sources accompanying the fatigue mechanisms are derived from thermal images provided by an infrared camera. A processing method allows identifying separately thermoelastic and dissipative sources. Thermoelastic effects are compared to theoretical predictions given by the basic, linear, isotropic thermoelastic model. Dissipation amplitudes are analyzed as a function of the loading frequency and stress amplitude applied to the fatigue specimen. Finally, the heterogeneous character of the fatigue development is studied both in terms of thermoelastic and dissipation sources.