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At least 109 records · Page 6

Crack growth in Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V with real-time and accelerated flight-by-flight loading

Crack growth in Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V was measured and calculated for real-time and accelerated simulations of supersonic airplane loading and heating. Crack-growth rates calculated on the assumption that an entire flight could be represented by a single cycle predicted the experimental rates poorly. Calculated crack-growth rates were slower than the experimental rates for all tests with flight-by-flight loading. For room-temperature accelerated tests, the calculated rates agreed well with the experimental rates; but the calculations became progressively less accurate for progressively more complex test conditions (tests that included elevated temperature). Calculations of crack growth using the crack-closure concept can probably be improved through study of crack-opening stresses using finite-element models that account for variable-amplitude loading, residual stresses, and temperature effects. The calculations of crack growth could also be improved through detailed studies of material properties and interactions among stress, temperature, and time as appropriate for the real-time operating conditions of a supersonic transport airplane.

Imig, L. A.↗

Crack growth in Ti-8Al-1Mo-1V with real-time and accelerated flight by flight loading

Crack growth in Ti-8Al-lMo-lV was measured and calculated for real time and accelerated simulations of supersonic airplane loading and heating. Crack-growth rates calculated on the assumption that an entire flight could be represented by a single cycle predicted the experimental rates poorly. Calculated crack growth rates were slower than the experimental rates for all tests with flight-by-flight loading. For room temperature accelerated tests, the calculated rates agreed well with the experimental rates; but the calculations became progressively less accurate for progressively more complex test conditions (tests that included elevated temperature).

Imig, L. A.↗

Four-dimensional microstructurally small fatigue crack growth in cyclically loaded nickel superalloy specimen

Here, we nondestructively image a low-solvus high refractory (LSHR) nickel base specimen microstructure during cyclic loading to characterize crack propagation during the microstructurally small crack (MSC) growth regime. Micro-computed tomography (uCT) is used to characterize the material density and identify crack interfaces, while high-energy diffraction microscopy (HEDM) provides snapshots of the microstructural orientation field changes. From these measurements, data are computationally reconstructed and coregistered to describe the specimen’s configuration before load, before crack nucleation, and throughout the crack propagation/loading process. An MSC forms at a FIB-cut notch, which was previously placed to concentrate stress at the center of the specimen gauge, and propagates along a facet parallel to the local {1 1 1} crystallographic plane. Analysis of available crystallographic slip directions and measured point-to-point disorientation axes indicate probable single and coplanar slip activity along FCC octahedral planes within this region. Similar analyses of other crack propagation facets reveal generally slower growth along directions favoring zig-zag cross and codirectional cross slip, which are often disfavored at room temperature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Investigation and characterization of constraint effects on flaw growth during fatigue loading of composite materials

An investigative program is presented in an attempt to add to the current understanding of constraint effects on the response of composite materials under cyclic loading. The objectives were: (1) to use existing data and to develop additional data in order to establish an understanding and quantitative description of flaw growth in unidirectional lamina under cyclic loading at different load direction to fiber direction angles; (2) to establish a similar understanding and description of flaw growth in lamina which are embedded in laminates between other unflawed lamina; (3) to determine the nature of the influence of constraint on flaw growth by quantitatively comparing the results of the tests; and (4) to develop a model and philosophy of constraints effects based on our investigative results.

Stinchcomb, W. W.↗

Random loading fatigue crack growth: Crack closure considerations

The prediction of fatigue crack growth is an important element of effective fracture control for metallic structures and mechanical components, especially in the aerospace industry. The prediction techniques available and applied today are mostly based on fatigue crack growth measurements determined in constant amplitude testing. However, while many service loadings are constant amplitude, many more loadings are random amplitude. An investigation to determine which statistics of random loadings are relevant to fatigue crack closure was conducted. The fundamentals of random processes and crack closure are briefly reviewed, then the relevance of certain random process parameters to the crack closure calculation are discussed qualitatively. A course for further research is outlined.

Ortiz, Keith↗

Observation of damage growth in compressively loaded laminates

Graphite/epoxy laminates have a definite advantage with respect to the strength-to-weight relation over many standard engineering materials used in aerospace applications. However, this advantage is somewhat reduced by the sensitivity of these laminates to operational hazards, which include a low-velocity impact by foreign objects. Investigations conducted by Chai (1982) and Knauss et al. (1980) have been concerned with the growth of impact damage in compressively loaded laminates, and the visualization of such an impact damage. The present study represents a condensation of parts of these investigations, taking into account a determination of the damage-growth mechanism via real-time recording of the impact event. The material considered, a T300/5208 graphite/epoxy laminate, is typical of the configuration proposed for future heavily loaded primary structures. It has stiffness properties similar to those of the wing skins in existing transport aircraft.

Knauss, W. G.↗

Generating Fatigue Crack Growth Thresholds with Constant Amplitude Loads

The fatigue crack growth threshold, defining crack growth as either very slow or nonexistent, has been traditionally determined with standardized load reduction methodologies. Some experimental procedures tend to induce load history effects that result in remote crack closure from plasticity. This history can affect the crack driving force, i.e. during the unloading process the crack will close first at some point along the wake, reducing the effective load at the crack tip. One way to reduce the effects of load history is to propagate a crack under constant amplitude loading. As a crack propagates under constant amplitude loading, the stress intensity factor, K, will increase, as will the crack growth rate, da/dN. A fatigue crack growth threshold test procedure is developed and experimentally validated that does not produce load history effects and can be conducted at a specified stress ratio, R.

Forth, Scott C.↗

Characterization of crack growth under combined loading

Room-temperature static and cyclic tests were made on 21 aluminum plates in the shape of a 91.4x91.4-cm Maltese cross with 45 deg flaws to develop crack growth and fracture toughness data under mixed-mode conditions. During cyclic testing, it was impossible to maintain a high proportion of shear-mode deformation on the crack tips. Cracks either branched or turned. Under static loading, cracks remained straight if shear stress intensity exceeded normal stress intensity. Mixed-mode crack growth rate data compared reasonably well with published single-mode data, and measured crack displacements agreed with the straight and branched crack analyses. Values of critical strain energy release rate at fracture for pure shear were approximately 50% higher than for pure normal opening, and there was a large reduction in normal stress intensity at fracture in the presence of high shear stress intensity. Net section stresses were well into the inelastic range when fracture occurred under high shear on the cracks.

Feldman, A.↗

A crack-closure model for predicting fatigue-crack growth under aircraft spectrum loading

The development and application of an analytical model of cycle crack growth is presented that includes the effects of crack closure. The model was used to correlate crack growth rates under constant amplitude loading and to predict crack growth under aircraft spectrum loading on 2219-T851 aluminum alloy sheet material. The predicted crack growth lives agreed well with experimental data. The ratio of predicted to experimental lives ranged from 0.66 to 1.48. These predictions were made using data from an ASTM E24.06.01 Round Robin.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗

Effects of constraint on crack growth under aircraft spectrum loading

The objective is to study the effects of constraint on fatigue crack growth under aircraft spectrum loading. A plasticity-induced crack-closure model that accounts for constraint variations during the transition from flat-to-slant crack growth was used to correlate crack-growth rate data under constant-amplitude loading and to calculate crack growth under simulated aircraft spectrum loading. The model was applied to several thin-sheet aluminum alloy materials. Under laboratory air conditions, the transition was shown to be related to the size of the cyclic plastic zone based on the effective stress-intensity factor range for several sheet materials and thicknesses. Results from three-dimensional, elastic-plastic, finite-element analyses of a flat, straight-through crack in a thin-sheet aluminum alloy specimen showed a constraint loss similar to that assumed in the model. Using test data and the closure model, the location of the constraint-loss regime in terms of growth rate and the value of the constraint factor at these rates were determined by trial and error. The model was then used to calculate crack growth under the TWIST spectrum. The calculated results agreed reasonably well with test data. In general, the model predicted shorter crack-growth lives than tests under the TWIST spectrum by about 40 percent. For the TWIST spectrum clipped at Level 3, the calculated lives were within about 20 percent. The results demonstrated that constraint variations, especially for thin-sheet alloys, should be accounted for to predict crack growth under typical aircraft spectra.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗

Load interaction effects on fatigue crack growth in Ti-6Al-4V alloy

The importance of delay, retardation in the rate of fatigue crack growth, produced by load interactions in variable amplitude loading, on the accurate prediction of fatigue lives of engineering structures is discussed. The effects of a broad range of loading variables on delay in fatigue crack growth at room temperature are examined for a mill annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy. The results are used to estimate crack growth behavior under programmed loads.

Wei, R. P.↗

Abnormal grain growth in ultrafine grained Ni under high-cycle loading

Abnormal grain growth can occur in polycrystalline materials with only a fraction of grains growing drastically to consume other grains. We report abnormal grain growth in ultrafine grained metal in a rarely explored high-cycle loading regime at ambient temperature. Abnormal grain growth is observed in electroplated Ni microbeams with average initial grain sizes less than 640 nm under a large number of loading cycles (up to 109) with low strain amplitudes (< 0.3%). Such abnormal grain growth occurs predominantly in the family of grains whose <100> orientation is along the tensile/compressive loading direction. Micromechanics analysis suggests that the elastic anisotropy of grains dictates the thermodynamic driving force of abnormal grain growth, such that the lowest strain energy density of the <100> oriented grain family dominates grain growth. This work unveils a unique type of abnormal grain growth that may be harnessed to tailor grain microstructures in materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A crack-closure model for predicting fatigue crack growth under aircraft spectrum loading

The present paper is concerned with the development and application of an analytical model of cyclic crack growth that includes the effects of crack closure. The model was based on a concept like the Dugdale model, but was modified to leave plastically deformed material in the wake of the advancing crack tip. The model was used to correlate crack growth rates under constant-amplitude loading and to predict crack growth under aircraft spectrum loading on 2219-T851 aluminum alloy plate material. The predicted crack growth lives agreed well with experimental data. The ratio of predicted-to-experimental lives ranged from 0.66 to 1.48.

Newman, J. C., Jr.↗

Stress Ratio Effects on Crack Opening Loads and Crack Growth Rates in Aluminum Alloy 2024

The effects of stress ratio (R) and crack opening behavior on fatigue crack growth rates (da/dN) for aluminum alloy (AA) 2024-T3 were investigated using constant-delta K testing, closure measurements, and fractography. Fatigue crack growth rates were obtained for a range of delta K and stress ratios. Results show that constant delta K fatigue crack growth for R ranging from near 0 to 1 is divided into three regions. In Region 1, at low R, da/dN increases with increasing R. In Region 2, at intermediate R, fatigue crack growth rates are relatively independent of R. In Region 3, at high R, further increases in da/dN are observed with increasing R.

Riddell, William T.↗

Influence of gaseous hydrogen on metals

Tensile, fracture toughness, threshold stress intensity for sustained-load crack growth, and cyclic and sustained load crack growth rate measurements were performed on a number of alloys in high-pressure hydrogen and helium environments. The results of tensile tests performed in 34.5 MN/m2 (5000 psi) hydrogen indicated that Inconel 625 was considerable embrittled at ambient temperature but was not embrittled at 144 K (-200 F). The tensile properties of AISI 321 stainless steel were slightly reduced at ambient temperature and 144 K (-200 F). The tensile properties of Ti-5Al-2.5 Sn ELI were essentially unaffected by hydrogen at 144 K (-200 F). OFHC copper was not embrittled by hydrogen at ambient temperature or at 144 K (-200 F).

Walter, R. J.↗