Author(s)

P Brož

Abstract

The application of stress intensity factors in the analysis of fatigue crack growth data is discussed. A boundary element model of fatigue crack closure is constituted in plane stress circumstances. A Dugdale - type strip yield region is applied to develop crack shape stress conditions. Presages of crack closure characteristics are performed for cracks propagating under constant amplitude loading, and obeying an overload cycle, too. The algorithm gives very good predictions of crack behaviour under constant amplitude loading. In the case of crack closure levels adhering to an overload cycle, the predictions bring about qualitative coincidence with test results.

Keywords