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A new photoelastic model for studying fatigue crack closure

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Abstract

The photoelastic analysis of crack tip stress intensity factors has been historically developed for use on sharp notches in brittle materials that idealize the cracked structure. This approach, while useful, is not applicable to cases where residual effects of fatigue crack development (e.g., plasticity, surface roughness) affect the applied stress intensity range. A photoelastic model of these fatigue processes has been developed using polycarbonate, which is sufficiently ductile to allow the growth of a fatigue crack. The resultant stress field has been modeled mathematically using the stress potential function approach of Muskhelishvili to predict the stresses near a loaded but closed crack in an elastic body. The model was fitted to full-field photoelastic data using a combination of a generic algorithm and the downhill simplex method. The technique offers a significant advance in the ability to characterize the behavior of fatigue cracks with plasticity-induced closure, and hence to gain new insights into the associated mechanisms.

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Abbreviations

A k ,a k :

Fourier series coefficients

d :

mean difference between theoretical and experimental stress values

i :

square root of −1

m :

mapping function shape descriptor

r, θ:

polar coordinates in the mapping plane

s :

standard deviation in the difference between stress values

t :

distance from the crack tip

x, y :

Cartesian coordinates in the physical plane

z :

complex coordinate in the physical plane

B :

rigid body translation of the mapping plane

C :

rigid body rotation of the mapping plane

K I ,K II :

mode I and II stress intensity factors

K max :

maximum value of stress intensity factor

P :

pressure loading on the crack

R :

mapping function length descriptor

T :

shear loading on the crack

α:

principal stress direction at infinity

κ:

material constant

ν:

Poisson's ratio

σ1, α:

maximum principal stress at infinity

σ2, α:

minimum principal stress at infinity

τ r θ:

shear stress

ω:

mapping function

ζ:

complex coordinate in the mapping plane

Γ:

rigid body movement of the mapping plane

Ε, Γ:

complex stress functions

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Author notes

  1. M. N. Pacey (SEM Member)

    Present address: ALSTOM Power Technology Centre, Cambridge Road, Whetstone, LE8 6LH, Leicester, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Marine Engineering, University of Plymouth, Diake Circus, PL4 8AA, Plymouth, UK

    M. N. Pacey (SEM Member) & M. N. James (Professor)

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Michigan State University, 2555 Engineering Building, 48826, E. Lansing, MI, USA

    E. A. Patterson (SEM Member)

Authors
  1. M. N. Pacey
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  2. M. N. James
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  3. E. A. Patterson
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Pacey, M.N., James, M.N. & Patterson, E.A. A new photoelastic model for studying fatigue crack closure. Experimental Mechanics 45, 42–52 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02428989

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02428989

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