University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Theory of fatigue based on statistical distribution of grain size

Lunchick, M.E.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/112029

Description

Title
Theory of fatigue based on statistical distribution of grain size
Author(s)
Lunchick, M.E.
Issue Date
1952-07
Keyword(s)
  • Fatigue
  • Grain Size
Abstract
A theory of fatigue behavior is developed based on the failure of the grains as the basic structural components of a metal. Briefly, the failure is described to initiate at the larger or weaker grains in which disruption by slip occurs. With further repeated loading, microscopic cracks nucleating at the disrupted grains and propagating throughout the member are presented as the mechanism of fatigue failure. Slip and subsequent microscopic crack initiation is based on Bragg’s Hypothesis which expresses the elastic strength of a grain as an inverse function of the mean free path for slip. Confining the analysis to a single-phase metal, the mean free path for slip is taken equal to the grain size, for the grain boundaries inhibit slip. Using a log-normal distribution of grain size and the mean free path for slip equal to the grain size, a mathematical correlation between the strength of the metal and its structure is established. Assuming as a first approximation that the fatigue life varies inversely with the number of microscopic cracks initiated, the role of microscopic crack initiation in influencing the fatigue life is determined. The influence of rate of propagation of the microscopic cracks on the fatigue life is expressed empirically from past experimental data by assuming a linear relationship between the relative stress level and the logarithm of the number of cycles from microscopic crack initiation to final failure. The interaction of crack initiation and rate of crack propagation is then given mathematical expression as an equation for the fatigue life. According to the theory developed, the fatigue strength and fatigue life of a single-phase metal is increased by: (a) decreasing the mean grain size, (b) making the material more uniform in grain size distribution, and (c) decreasing the volume of material subjected to stresses above a given reference stress. Finally, scatter of fatigue life and size-effect in fatigue specimens are explained qualitatively on the basis on the basis of the heterogeneity of the material that results in a wide variation in microscopic cracks initiating on the planes of failure.
Publisher
Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. College of Engineering. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Series/Report Name or Number
  • TAM R 32
  • 1967-0330
ISSN
0073-5264
Type of Resource
text
Language
eng
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/112029
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
Office of Naval Research, U. S. Navy, Contract N6-ori-71, Task Order IV; Project NR-031-005
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 1952 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

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Technical Reports - Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (TAM) PRIMARY
TAM technical reports include manuscripts intended for publication, theses judged to have general interest, notes prepared for short courses, symposia compiled from outstanding undergraduate projects, and reports prepared for research-sponsoring agencies.