Mean Strain Effect on Crack Initiation Lives for Notched Specimens Under Biaxial Nonproportional Loading Paths

Abstract

This paper discusses the mean strain effect on the crack initiation lives for notched specimens under biaxial nonproportional loading paths. Elastic-plastic finite element method was used to evaluate the local stresses and strains. Several prediction models related to the mean stress/strain effect were employed to correlate the experimental results with reference fatigue data for smooth specimens. It is found that Fatemi-Socie model gives good prediction for the present research with the assistance of finite element method. The stress behavior in this deflection-controlled tests is discussed in this study, and the failure surfaces are also examined after tests.