TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 562/1996
T R Gurney
Background
The prediction of fatigue lives of structures subjected to variable amplitude loading is extremely difficult because of the lack of an accurate damage accumulation rule. Despite extensive studies, the linear accumulation rule attributed to Miner (although known to give serious inaccuracies) remains in universal use. It is generally considered that improvements to predictions of cumulative damage must arise from a better understanding of the effects of stress interactions. This report reviews the experimental findings and comments on the respective role of residual stresses and crack closure on fatigue crack retardation effects.
Objective
- To review experimental studies on stress interaction effects, to interpret whether residual stresses and/or crack closure effects can explain the phenomena.