Crack propagation under cyclic loading

Wureguli Reheman

Blekinge institute of technology, 2020

 Static vs Dynamic loading
q Static loads - characteristics does not change with respect to time
Ø Crack does not grow until applied !" reaches !"#

q Dynamic loads - characteristics change with respect to time

Ø Applied !" can be well below of !"# , over time crack grows

q Within the family of dynamic loads, certain loads are repetitive and maintaining
more or less same time period. Such loads are known as Cyclic loads.
Ø These loads are can be repeated loading or can be due to vibration

q Cyclic load – a load applied over and over

E.g., Twisting of wire again and again with same effort cause the breaking

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 Cyclic load
q Many structures are exposed to cyclic load

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 Cyclic load
q Cyclic load on a structure can lead to fatigue damage or failure

The Aloha https://www. thisdayinaviation. com/28 − april − 1988/ 2013 Hafjell World Cup

Structures are subjected repeated loads, so called cyclic loads, and the resulting cyclic stresses can
lead to microscopic physical damage to the materials involved. Even at stresses well below the
material’s ultimate strength, this damage can accumulate with continued cycling until it develops
into a crack or other damage that leads to failure of the component.
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 Critical locations on the structure
q Airframe loading: Critical locations

Periodic inspection should

be systematic and
complete examination of
the entire structure with a
particular attention given
to the critical locations

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 Cyclic load - stress and stress intensity factor
q A typical stress history and stress intensity factor during cyclic loading
is shown below

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 Cyclic load
q What are the important parameters to characterize a given cyclic
loading history?

Ø Stress Range: ∆" = "$%& − "$()

Ø Stress amplitude:

Ø Mean stress:

Ø Stress intensity factor range:

Ø Stress ratio:

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 Range of stress and stress intensity factor
q Only tensile stresses contribute to the range of the stress intensity factor.
It is defined as below:

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 Range of stress and stress intensity factor
q the range of the stress intensity factor is defined as below

!"#$% = '#$% ( )*

!"#+, = '#+,( )*

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 Crack growth under cyclic load
q In the early 1960s, Paris et al.
characterize crack growth by
fatigue.

§ If the crack length is a and number of loading

cycle is N then the quantity ,"⁄,# gives the
growth of crack per loading cycle, ,"⁄,# is
called fatigue crack growth rate.

If the experimentally measured ,"⁄,# value vs

stress intensity range ∆(- plotted in log-log diagram,
then it gives the plot shown in the figure

!"
= %(∆()*
!#
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 Crack growth under cyclic load

q Region I, is called threshold region, crack

growth is zero or very small

q Region II, intermediate region, crack

growth is almost linear. The straight-line
relationship in this diagram is named
after Paul Croce Paris, as Paris’ law

q Region III, unstable region, crack

growths very rapidly and fracture are
near coming
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 Paris’ law – Modelling of crack growth
q In the early 1960s, Paris et al.
characterize crack growth by Y
fatigue.

$%
!"# $& = (!"#∆*+ + , ′ Y = n X+ , ′

$%
= ,(∆*)0
$&

Here, parameters C is the level of straight line, n is the X

slop of straight line in region 2

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 Paris’ law – Modelling of crack growth
q If we look at three different region
with more attention one can observe
that:
Ø In region 1, Paris’ law estimate a higher crack
growth rate than the experimental data

Ø In region 2, well predicted

Ø In region 3 (unstable region), Paris’ law

estimate too low crack growth rate.

q Modifications for this two region are needed

!"
= %(∆()*
© Wureguli Reheman, BTH, 2020
!# 13
 Paris’ law – Modelling of crack growth
q To avoid miss estimations in region 3, !"#
should be divided with a safety factor
lager than unity
K IC
K Imax (s max , a final ) =
s
q This assumes that LEFM theory is valid
at the end of region 3, which is at the
final fracture
ìt ü 2
ï ï æ K IC ö
ía ( final ) ý ³ 2.5çç ÷÷ From this correction objects can be decided to be
ï ï è ss Y ø designed for finite or infinite life.
îW - a ( final )þ © Wureguli Reheman, BTH, 2020
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 Modifications of Paris’ law
q Modifications of Paris’ law for two regions

Ø Region 1, the threshold region

Ø Region 3, the instability region

q Influence of mean value of stress

q Crack closure

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 Modifications of Paris’ law
q Influence of mean value of stress

Ø To include the influence of mean stress, the stress ratio R is considered, which is
in the modified Paris’ law, then it may written

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 Modified Paris’ law

q Region 1, in the threshold region

q Region 3, in the instability region

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 Crack closure

q Crack may close before remote stress has reached to zero when
the cracked structure unloaded

Ø Plasticity induced closure

Ø Surface roughness
Ø Oxide included
Ø Viscous fluid
Ø Transformation included (different
material structure as for welding)
Ø …..etc
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q Home work

Ø 6.2, 6.8, 6.9

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