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At least 541 records · Page 30

Some important considerations in the development of stress corrosion cracking test methods.

Discussion of some of the precaution needs the development of fracture-mechanics based test methods for studying stress corrosion cracking involves. Following a review of pertinent analytical fracture mechanics considerations and of basic test methods, the implications for test corrosion cracking studies of the time-to-failure determining kinetics of crack growth and life are examined. It is shown that the basic assumption of the linear-elastic fracture mechanics analyses must be clearly recognized and satisfied in experimentation and that the effects of incubation and nonsteady-state crack growth must also be properly taken into account in determining the crack growth kinetics, if valid data are to be obtained from fracture-mechanics based test methods.

Wei, R. P.↗

A sandwich plate with a part-through and a debonding crack.

The stress analysis of a metal base plate stiffened by a fiber-reinforced composite layer is considered. It is assumed that the two materials are bonded through an adhesive of constant thickness which is treated as a two-dimensional shear spring in the analysis. The metal plate is assumed to contain a through crack of finite length. The composite plate has no flaws. However, due to the high stress concentration around the crack and on the interface, a debonding crack is assumed to exist, encircling the crack in the base plate. The problem is reduced to a pair of integral equations of the second kind with Fredholm-type kernels. By solving these equations the stress intensity factor in the base plate, the boundary of the debonding crack, and the interface shear stresses acting on the adhesive are calculated.

Erdogan, F.↗

Two bonded half planes with a crack going through the interface

The plane problem of two bonded elastic half planes containing a finite crack perpendicular to and going through the interface is considered. The problem is formulated as a system of singular integral equations with generalized Cauchy kernels. Even though the system has three irregular points, it is shown that the unknown functions are algebraically related at the irregular point on the interface and the integral equations can be solved by a method developed previously. The system of integral equations is shown to yield the same characteristic equation as that for two bonded quarter planes in the general case of the through crack, and the characteristic equation for a crack tip terminating at the interface in the special case. The numerical results given in the paper include the stress intensity factors at the crack tips, the normal and shear components of the stress intensity factors at the singular point on the interface, and the crack surface displacements.

Erdogan, F.↗

Hydrogen adsorption and diffusion, and subcritical-crack growth in high strength steels and nickel base alloys

Embrittlement, or the enhancement of crack growth by gaseous hydrogen in high strength alloys, is of primary interest in selecting alloys for various components in the space shuttle. Embrittlement is known to occur at hydrogen gas pressures ranging from fractions to several hundred atmospheres, and is most severe in the case of martensitic high strength steels. Kinetic information on subcritical crack growth in gaseous hydrogen is sparse at this time. Corroborative information on hydrogen adsorption and diffusion is inadequate to permit a clear determination of the rate controlling process and possible mechanism in hydrogen enhanced crack growth, and for estimating behavior over a range of temperatures and pressures. Therefore, coordinated studies of the kinetics of crack growth, and adsorption and diffusion of hydrogen, using identical materials, have been initiated. Comparable conditions of temperature and pressure will be used in the chemical and mechanical experiments. Inconel 718 alloy and 18Ni(200) maraging steel have been selected for these studies. Results from these studies are expected to provide not only a better understanding of the gaseous hydrogen embrittlement phenomenon itself, but also fundamental information on hydrogen adsorption and diffusion, and crack growth information that can be used directly for design.

Wei, R. P.↗

Apollo experience report: The problem of stress-corrosion cracking

Stress-corrosion cracking has been the most common cause of structural-material failures in the Apollo Program. The frequency of stress-corrosion cracking has been high and the magnitude of the problem, in terms of hardware lost and time and money expended, has been significant. In this report, the significant Apollo Program experiences with stress-corrosion cracking are discussed. The causes of stress-corrosion cracking and the corrective actions are discussed, in terminology familiar to design engineers and management personnel, to show how stress-corrosion cracking can be prevented.

Johnson, R. E.↗

Alternating method applied to edge and surface crack problems

The Schwarz-Neumann alternating method is employed to obtain stress intensity solutions to two crack problems of practical importance: a semi-infinite elastic plate containing an edge crack which is subjected to concentrated normal and tangential forces, and an elastic half space containing a semicircular surface crack which is subjected to uniform opening pressure. The solution to the semicircular surface crack is seen to be a significant improvement over existing approximate solutions. Application of the alternating method to other crack problems of current interest is briefly discussed.

Hartranft, R. J.↗

The inclusion problem with a crack crossing the boundary

The problem of an elastic plane containing an elastic inclusion is considered. It is assumed that both the plane and the inclusion contain a radial crack and the two cracks are collinear. The problem is formulated in terms of a system of singular integral equations. In the interesting limiting cases in which the crack tips approach the interface from either one or both sides, the dominant parts of the kernels become generalized Cauchy kernels giving rise to stress singularities of other than minus 1/2 power. For these unusual cases of a crack terminating at or crossing the interface stress intensity factors are defined and some detailed results are given for various crack-inclusion geometries and material combinations.

Erdogan, F.↗

Interaction between a circular inclusion and an arbitrarily oriented crack

The plane interaction problem for a circular elastic inclusion imbedded into an elastic matrix which contains an arbitrarily oriented crack is considered. Using the existing solutions for the edge dislocations as Green's functions, first the general problem of a through crack in the form of an arbitrary smooth arc located in the matrix in the vicinity of the inclusion is formulated. The integral equations for the line crack are then obtained as a system of singular integral equation with simple Cauchy kernels. The singular behavior of the stresses around the crack tips is examined and the expressions for the stress intensity factors representing the strength of the stress singularities are obtained in terms of the asymptotic values of the density functions of the integral equations. The problem is solved for various typical crack orientations and the corresponding stress intensity factors are given.

Erdogan, F.↗

Cracking of Ti-6Al-4V in methanol solutions containing sulfates.

Whether cracking of unnotched Ti-6Al-4V specimens occurs in methanol containing H2SO4, Li2SO4, or Fe2(SO4)3 is a function of the age of the solution and the concentration of the sulfate. With H2SO4 concentrations of 0.10 N to 0.25 N, the methanol solutions lose their ability to crack the specimens with time after mixing and prior to exposure. The aging time required to inhibit the cracking varies inversely with the water content of the solution. With larger quantities of H2SO4, 0.5 N and 1 N, no cracking is observed. Interpretations of Raman spectroscopic studies of the aging solution suggests that the nature of the O-H group may play a role in the crack initiation or inhibiting mechanism.

Haney, E. G.↗

The detection of fatigue cracks by nondestructive testing methods

X-radiographic penetrant, ultrasonic, eddy current, holographic, and acoustic emission techniques were optimized and applied to the evaluation of 2219-T87 aluminum alloy test specimens. One hundred eighteen specimens containing a total of 328 fatigue cracks were evaluated. The cracks ranged in length from 0.500 inch (1.27 cm) to 0.007 inch (0.018 cm) and in depth from 0.178 inch (0.451 cm) and 0.001 inch (0.003 cm). Specimen thicknesses were nominally 0.060 inch (0.152 cm) and 0.210 inch (0.532 cm) and surface finishes were nominally 32 and 125 rms and 64 and 200 rms respectively. Specimens were evaluated in the as-milled surface condition, in the chemically milled surface condition and, after proof loading, in a randomized inspection sequence. Results of the nondestructive test (NDT) evaluations were compared with actual crack size obtained by measurement of the fractured specimens. Inspection data was then analyzed to provide a statistical basis for determinating the threshold crack detection sensitivity (the largest crack size that would be missed) for each of the inspection techniques at a 95% probability and 95% confidence level.

Rummel, W. D.↗

Stress intensity factors for deep cracks emanating from the corner formed by a hole intersecting a plate surface

A technique consisting of a marriage between stress freezing photoelasticity and a numerical method was used to obtain stress intensity factors for natural cracks emanating from the corner at which a hole intersects a plate surface. Geometrics studied were: crack depth to thickness ratios of approximately 0.2, 0.5, and 0.75; crack depth to crack length ratios of approximately 1.0 to 2.0. All final crack geometries were grown under monotonic loading and growth was not self similar with most of the growth occurring through the thickness under remote extension. Stress intensity plate surface K sub s factors were determined at the intersection of the flaw border with the plate surface K sub s and with the edge of the hole K sub h. Results showed that for the relatively shallow flaws K sub h approximately equal to 1.5 K sub s, for the moderately deep flaws K sub h approximately equal to K sub s, and for the deep flaws K sub h approximately equal to 0.5 K sub s, revealing a severe sensitivity of K to flaw geometry.

Mcgowan, J. J.↗

Three-dimensional crack problems

Methods for solving three dimensional crack problems are discussed. The stress intensity factor for the case of uniform pressure on the surface crack is analysis. An analysis of concentrated forces acting on the crack faces parallel to the crack front of a half-plane crack was made. Two dimensional calculations were made using the exact solution for the stress field around an elliptical hole in a uniformly stretched plate. The strain energy density was computed in the neighborhood of the ends of narrow, but sharp, ellipses.

Hartranft, R. J.↗

A new criterion for failure of materials by environment-induced cracking

A new criterion has been developed for predicting failure of materials by environment-induced cracking. The criterion has been developed by the use of fracture mechanics concepts and assumes that the relationship between crack-growth rate and stress intensity can be described by three separable regions of behavior as first suggested by Wiederhorn. The analytical form of the criterion relates failure time to the initial crack length and the critical crack length or alternatively, to the initial stress intensity and the fracture toughness for various conditions of stress and the environmental variables. The analytical expression is examined by the use of some experimental data on the hydrogen-induced cracking of Ti-5Al-2.5 Sn, and it is demonstrated that the expression predicts the general expected form of the relationship between the normalized stress intensity parameter and the failure time.

Williams, D. P.↗

Evaluation of fatigue-crack growth rates by polynomial curve fitting

Fundamental characterization of the constant-amplitude fatigue crack propagation is achieved by an analysis of the rate of change of crack length with change in number of applied loading cycles, defining the rate values such that they are consistent with the basic assumption of smoothness and continuity in the fatigue crack growth process. The technique used to satisfy the analytical conditions and minimize the effects of local material anomalies and experimental errors is that of fitting a smooth curve to the entire set of basic data by least square regression. This yields a well-behaved function relating the number of cycles to the crack length. By taking the first derivative of the function, the crack growth rate is obtained for each point. The class of curve fitting functions used in the analysis is the polynomial of degree n.

Davies, K. B.↗

Elastic-plastic analysis of a propagating crack under cyclic loading

Development and application of a two-dimensional finite-element analysis to predict crack-closure and crack-opening stresses during specified histories of cyclic loading. An existing finite-element computer program which accounts for elastic-plastic material behavior under cyclic loading was modified to account for changing boundary conditions - crack growth and intermittent contact of crack surfaces. This program was subsequently used to study the crack-closure behavior under constant-amplitude and simple block-program loading.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗

Consolidation of fatigue and fatigue-crack-propagation data for design use

Analytical methods developed for consolidation of fatigue and fatigue-crack-propagation data for use in design of metallic aerospace structural components are evaluated. A comprehensive file of data on 2024 and 7075 aluminums, Ti-6Al-4V alloy, and 300M steel was established by obtaining information from both published literature and reports furnished by aerospace companies. Analyses are restricted to information obtained from constant-amplitude load or strain cycling of specimens in air at room temperature. Both fatigue and fatigue-crack-propagation data are analyzed on a statistical basis using a least-squares regression approach. For fatigue, an equivalent strain parameter is used to account for mean stress or stress ratio effects and is treated as the independent variable; cyclic fatigue life is considered to be the dependent variable. An effective stress-intensity factor is used to account for the effect of load ratio on fatigue-crack-propagation and treated as the independent variable. In this latter case, crack-growth rate is considered to be the dependent variable. A two term power function is used to relate equivalent strain to fatigue life, and an arc-hyperbolic-tangent function is used to relate effective stress intensity to crack-growth rate.

Rice, R. C.↗

Interaction between a circular inclusion and an arbitrarily oriented crack

The plane interaction problem for a circular elastic inclusion embedded in an elastic matrix which contains an arbitrarily oriented crack is considered. Using the existing solutions for the edge dislocations as Green's functions, first the general problem of a through crack in the form of an arbitrary smooth arc located in the matrix in the vicinity of the inclusion is formulated. The integral equations for the line crack are then obtained as a system of singular integral equations with simple Cauchy kernels. The singular behavior of the stresses around the crack tips is examined and the expressions for the stress-intensity factors representing the strength of the stress singularities are obtained in terms of the asymptotic values of the density functions of the integral equations. The problem is solved for various typical crack orientations and the corresponding stress-intensity factors are given.

Erdogan, F.↗

Finite element computer program to analyze cracked orthotropic sheets

A two dimensional orthotropic sheet with through-the-thickness cracks and temperature gradient was analyzed. The program includes special crack tip elements that account for singular stress fields associated with crack opening and crack sliding displacements at the crack tip. The program also includes a linear spring element and a constant strain, triangular element. A number of problems for which closed form solutions exist were analyzed to demonstrate the capabilities of the program.

Chu, C. S.↗