Search

At present, a lack of fatigue design curves for Cr-Mo steel in high-pressure gaseous hydrogen worldwide impedes the use of the design fatigue curve (S-N curve) evaluation for vessel fatigue design, necessitating reliance on fracture mechanics methods related to the initial crack size. In this study, strain-controlled fatigue tests with a strain ratio of −1 were carried out in 50 MPa gaseous hydrogen to study the low cycle fatigue properties of Cr-Mo steel. Results indicate that hydrogen reduces the fatigue life of 4130X under high strain amplitudes. Under 0.5 % strain amplitude, different from characteristics of ductile fracture in air, the fracture in 50 MPa gaseous hydrogen showed quasi-cleavage and intergranular fracture characteristics. Based on the test results, the S - N curve in 50 MPa gaseous hydrogen was obtained with fatigue life safety factor 20 and stress amplitude safety factor 2. The S - N curve in 50 MPa gaseous hydrogen is under the curve in KD-320.2 M of the 2023 ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code VIII-3, which does not consider the effect of hydrogen, when the number of cycles to failure is less than 1×106. This indicates that the fatigue life calculated by the S - N curve in KD-320.2 M cannot ensure that 50 MPa high-pressure hydrogen storage vessels avoid fatigue failure under high stress amplitudes. • Carrying out fatigue tests with a strain ratio of −1 in 50 MPa gaseous hydrogen. • Morphology of fractures under 0.5% strain amplitude were analyzed. • Based on test results, the S - N curve in 50 MPa gaseous hydrogen was obtained. • Fatigue evaluations were performed by S - N curves and fracture mechanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The very high‐cycle fatigue (VHCF) fractographies of high‐strength steel AISI 4340 with tensile strength ranging from 1285 to 2363 MPa fabricated by tempering were systematically observed and quantitatively analyzed. It is found that the fatigue crack initiation sites were gradually transferred from the specimen surface to the interior with increasing the tensile strength or decreasing the stress amplitude. Such phenomenon has become common rule in the high‐cycle fatigue (HCF) or VHCF regimes of high‐strength steels. Based on the fracture mechanics, a simplified transition mechanism for fatigue crack initiation sites is established in terms of the influence of applied stress amplitude and microstructure, which is beneficial to enhance our understanding on the variation of fatigue strength increasing the tensile strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents correction factors for the Norwegian fatigue load model for railway bridges. The fundamental idea of a correction factor is to ensure that the load model induces the same fatigue damage as actual traffic. Load measurements from traffic on a representative line on the Norwegian railway network are used to propose correction factors for improved fatigue life estimation with freight and passenger trains. Correction factors improve the accuracy of the estimated fatigue life and reduce the conservatism of the load model. The validity and conservatism of the most damaging train assumption for fatigue load modeling is also considered. The suitability and consequences of using the proposed correction factors for other lines and historic traffic are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the mechanical properties and microstructures of bearing steels with arsenic contents of 30, 40, and 120 ppm have been investigated. The results show that As‐40 steel has the highest tensile strength but lower fatigue strength than As‐120 steel. The fatigue crack propagation rate of As‐120 steel is relatively low, mainly due to the increase in ΔKth. After quenching and tempering, As‐120 steel has larger prior austenite grains and more undecomposed, elongated carbides appear, reducing the uniformity of the steel. For carbides with an aspect ratio greater than 2, they cannot grow by the Oswald mechanism of spontaneous migration but are spheroidized by self‐cracking. The undissolved elongated carbides have a lower chemical potential, which increases the diffusion tendency of arsenic in the matrix. SIMS and EPMA analyses show that there is no significant distortion of the trace element arsenic. Highlights: The arsenic content in bearing steel has property advantages within the optimal range.Trace element arsenic will diffuse near low chemical potential strip carbides.A certain amount of arsenic coarsening grains can improve the fatigue strength of steel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of shot peening (SP) on pre‐fatigue tested carburized steel was investigated. Plane‐bending fatigue tests were conducted on carburized CrMo steel that was pre‐fatigue tested and treated with SP. Fatigue cracks were induced by pre‐fatigue tests with a stress amplitude of σa = 1000 MPa, and the number of the pre‐fatigue test cycles was 2.0 × 104 (L5 test) and 4.0 × 104 (L15 test). We compared the fatigue lives of the fatigue‐damaged and smooth specimens without fatigue damage treated with the same SP. The fatigue life of the L5 tested specimens with SP was longer than that of the non‐fatigue damaged smooth specimens after SP. Therefore, the fatigue cracks introduced by the L5 test can be rendered harmless by SP. Furthermore, near‐surface material properties were evaluated and the mechanisms of rendering surface cracks harmless were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-metallic inclusions are pivotal in shaping steel's fatigue, impact, and tensile properties, highlighting the need to manage them effectively in steel production. Enhancing steel quality is a top priority in the industry, driving innovations in inclusion removal and modification. The choice of deoxidizers and modifiers for inclusions is a crucial aspect of this endeavour. Current industry practice predominantly employs calcium treatment for steel, utilizing various calcium alloys. However, traditional calcium alloys exhibit inconsistent results due to their high reactivity and low recovery rates. To address these issues, this study explores the application of barium-bearing alloys, specifically calcium barium silicon (CaSiBa), as an alternative inclusion modifier. Barium has the unique ability to reduce the vapour pressure of calcium while increasing its solubility in steel, thereby enhancing calcium recovery and its effectiveness in inclusion modification. A comprehensive approach involving trials with CaSiBa cored wire, metallographic and mechanical evaluations was undertaken. The results demonstrated a remarkable improvement in calcium recovery, cleaner steel with better mechanical properties. The findings suggest that the use of CaSiBa cored wire can significantly enhance steel quality, making it a promising advancement in steelmaking technology, leading to higher-quality steel products with enhanced mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The boriding treatment is a very effective technique for hardening the surface to improve resistance to wear and friction, but it can also have negative effects on the mechanical properties and fatigue resistance of steel treated with this hardening technique. Boride parameters, such as temperature and holding time, affect the microstructure of the base metal and the boride layer. This study is interesting and important because understanding the effect of boriding and boriding parameters on the fatigue strength of X70 steel may have significant implications for industrial applications where fatigue is a major concern, such as offshore structures and transport equipment components. In order to better understand the effects of the boriding process on fatigue resistance, we carried out a series of fatigue tests on samples of X70 steel that had undergone different treatments. Three treatments were carried out, such as boriding treatment alone; direct quenching alone, and boriding followed by direct cooling. After analyzing the test results, we can evaluate the effect of each treatment on the fatigue properties of X70 steel and determine the optimal treatment combination to improve service performance. The results showed that boriding treatment followed by direct quenching has higher fatigue resistance than boriding treatment alone. Experimental data from microhardness tests showed that direct quenching after boriding increased the hardness of the base metal after boriding, which made it possible to obtain a balance between the surface hardness and the hardness of the interior of the metal. The morphology, microstructure, thickness of the borided layer, and crack origin sites were determined by means of the scanning electron microscope (SEM), an optical microscope, and microhardness by a microhardness tester. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Rubber Industry is the property of Editorial Office of China Rubber Industry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

When the high-density polyethylene sheath of bridge cables is not cracked, the galvanized high-strength steel wires are not corroded and only subjected to the fatigue loads of vehicles (called prefatigue). Some studies have confirmed that the corrosion rate and fatigue life of certain alloy materials can be affected by the prefatigue, which is not clear for the corroded steel wires in bridge cables. In this paper, the mechanical properties of high-strength steel wires considering the prefatigue effect under fatigue-corrosion alternating loading were studied, and the residual fatigue life was predicted. First, the corrosion characteristics of high-strength steel wires with different degrees of prefatigue and corrosion were explored through an optical microscope and a surface roughness measuring instrument. Then, the static mechanical properties and fatigue life of corroded steel wires were obtained. The results show that when the prefatigue effect is greater than the corrosion effect, the surface roughness of the corroded steel wires decreases significantly, leading to a smoother surface and a weaker stress concentration. Compared with the results in the "corrosion + fatigue" case, the fatigue life of the steel wires in the "fatigue (prefatigue) + corrosion + fatigue" case may increase. The prefatigue effect has no significant effect on the static performance of the corroded steel wires. Finally, a fatigue life prediction model of corroded steel wires considering the effect of prefatigue was established based on the aforementioned experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inclusions are an important parameter affecting the fatigue life of materials. In this paper, the type, size, and quantity of inclusions in bearing steel were quantitatively analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and automatic scanning electron microscopy with an X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy function. The effects of the inclusion parameters and positions on the rotating bending fatigue properties were analyzed using the rotating bending fatigue test. The results proved that for samples 1 and 2, the inclusions were mainly sulfides, Ti-containing inclusions, and their composite inclusions. For samples 3 and 4, the inclusions were mainly oxides or sulfide–oxide complexes. The number and maximum size of inclusions in sample 2 were relatively small. This was mainly due to the difference in the content of Al, S, and Ca elements in the different samples. The inclusion distance to the surface and the maximum inclusion size had a larger influence on the rotating bending fatigue life in comparison to the inclusion type. Moreover, nitride–oxides had a more detrimental effect on the rotating bending fatigue life as compared to the sulfide–oxide complex inclusions. A model was established on the basis of the inclusion size, depth, and stress by using the Python software. The simulation demonstrated that using five parameters fit well with the experiment results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effects of laser peening (LP) on the surface and bending fatigue properties of carburized steel (JIS SCM420), surface roughness measurements, residual stress measurements, retained austenite measurements, and four-point bending fatigue tests were conducted. After LP, the compressive residual stress was applied on the surface, with the effect extending to a depth of more than 1 mm. Due to the high compressive residual stress, the bending fatigue strength of LP specimen was 1.46 times higher than that of the gas carburized specimen even though the surface roughness was increased by LP. Notably, the amount of retained austenite was 10.9% at the outermost surface of LP specimen, and high-density twins were observed in the lath martensite structure. This can be attributed to high strain rate deformation by LP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction of the low-cycle fatigue life of bimetallic steel bars (BSBs) is essential to promote the engineering application of BSBs. However, research on the low-cycle fatigue properties of BSB is limited, and fatigue experiments are time-consuming. Moreover, considering that sufficient data are needed for model training, the lack of data hinders the leverage of typical data-driven machine learning, which is widely used in fatigue life prediction. To address this issue, a transfer learning framework was suggested to accurately predict the low-cycle fatigue life of BSBs with limited data. To achieve this goal, 54 data points obtained from low-cycle fatigue tests on BSBs and 264 data points of other metallic bars were collected. Source models based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) were first constructed using the collected source dataset. Then, the learned knowledge stored in the source models was transferred to the transfer models. After that, transfer models were further fine-tuned and then tested using the target dataset of BSBs. The ANN models, which were of the same structure as the transfer models but only trained with the target dataset without transferring deep features from the source models, were set as baseline models. Compared with baseline models, the constructed transfer models could be used to accurately predict the fatigue life of BSBs. Moreover, the influence of hidden layers of ANNs on accuracy was examined by comparing one-layer and two-layer transfer models. Furthermore, the influence of key parameters on fatigue life of metallic bars was evaluated by feature analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early in fatigue life, fatigue cracks are often initiated at persistent slip bands (PSBs), which play the main role in surface evolution when the components are subjected to cyclic loading. Therefore, this paper aims to study the behavior of the surface development of medium-carbon steel, specifically 42CrMo4 (SAE 4140). Tests were conducted using tension–compression fatigue testing with stress amplitudes set at 30%, 40%, and 50% of the ultimate tensile strength (UTS); a load ratio of R = −1; and a frequency of f = 10 Hz. The ultimate number of test cycles was 2 × 105. The fatigue test specimens with as-machined surface quality (Ra < 100 nm) were tested on a servo-hydraulic push–pull testing machine, and the tests were interrupted a few times to bring the specimens out for surface measuring with a confocal microscope. The linear roughness values of the arithmetic mean deviation (Ra), maximum height (Rz), maximum profile peak height (Rp), and maximum profile valley depth (Rv) were investigated and further used to determine the roughness evolution during cyclic loading (REC) by analyzing the inclinations of the fitting curves of roughness and number-of-cycles diagrams. REC could then be used to estimate and classify the fatigue lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of kinematic and isotropic hardening models makes it possible to model the behaviour of cyclic elastic-plastic steel material, though the estimation of the hardening parameters and catching the influence of those parameters on the material response is a challenging task. In the current work, an approach for the numerical simulation of the low-cycle fatigue of AISI316L steel is presented using a finite element method to study the fatigue behaviour of the steel at different strain amplitudes and operating temperatures. Fully reversed uniaxial LCF tests are performed at different strain amplitudes and operating temperatures. Based on the LCF test experimental results, the non-linear isotropic and kinematic hardening parameters are estimated for numerical simulation. On comparing, the numerical simulation results were in very good agreement with those of the experimental ones. This presented method for the numerical simulation of the low-cycle fatigue on AISI316 stainless steel can be used for the approximate prediction of the fatigue life of the components under different cyclic loading amplitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new type of high-performance material, gradient structural steel is widely used in engineering fields due to its unique microstructure and excellent mechanical properties. For the prevalent fatigue failure problem, the rate of change in the local grain size gradients along the structure (referred to as the gradient rate) is a key parameter in the design of gradient structures, which significantly affects the fatigue performance of gradient structural steel. In this study, a new method of 'Voronoi primary + secondary modeling' is adopted to successfully establish three typical high-strength steel models corresponding to the convex-, linear-, and concave-type gradient rates for gradient structures, focusing on the stress–strain response and crack propagation in structural steel with different gradient rates under cyclic loading. It was found that the concave gradient rate structural model is dominated by finer grains with larger volume fraction, which is conducive to hindering fatigue crack propagation and has the longest fatigue life, which is 16.16% longer than that of the linear gradient rate structure and 23.66% longer than that of the convex gradient rate structure. The simulation results in this study are consistent with the relevant experimental phenomena. Therefore, when regulating the gradient rate, priority should be given to increasing the volume fraction of fine grains and designing a gradient rate structure dominated by fine grains to improve the fatigue life of the material. This study presents a new strategy for designing engineering materials with better service performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an experimental investigation on the fatigue and fracture properties of R350HT rail steel. The study aims to improve the strength, toughness, and wear resistance of railway steels. Various tests were conducted to quantify the fracture mechanics properties of the steel, including tensile tests, fatigue crack growth rate tests, and plane strain fracture toughness tests. The results provide valuable information for assessing the damage tolerance of railway rails and further developing rail steels. The findings suggest that R350HT steel has similar properties to other pearlitic rail steels but may have lower damage tolerance. [Extracted from the article]

This paper reviews quantitively the multiaxial fatigue assessment of steel and aluminum welded joints, focusing on Eurocodes (ECs) and the recommendations of the International Institute of Welding (IIW). Extensive fatigue data under constant and variable amplitude loading are reanalyzed using stress analysis approaches such as nominal stress, hot spot stress, and effective notch stress. Evaluation of the ECs and IIW criteria reveals an effective assessment of multiaxial fatigue, with a satisfactory level of conservatism. Further research is needed especially for variable amplitude (VA) loading to enhance the precision and reliability of assessments, contributing to improved design practices and structural integrity in welded joint applications. Highlights: The multiaxial fatigue criteria proposed by EC3 and the IIW are reviewedDesign criteria are applied in terms of nominal, hot spot, and effective notch stressBoth constant and variable amplitude load histories are consideredStandard approaches are characterized by a large level of conservatism [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosion significantly degrades the fatigue performance of high‐strength steel wires. This study conducts an extensive review of corrosion fatigue in corroded steel wires based on relevant literature. It outlines corrosion fatigue evolution mechanisms and discusses various test methodologies. Six distinct approaches are employed to assess corrosion fatigue life. A three‐stage multiscale corrosion fatigue evolution process involves pitting formation and growth, short crack propagation, and long crack propagation. Advanced fatigue assessment methods like the theory of critical distances (TCD) and the strain energy density (SED) are explored for predicting the corrosion fatigue life for corroded steel wires. A model utilizes an elastoplastic corrosion fatigue damage framework to comprehensively represent the complex interactions. The physics‐data‐driven method has garnered increasing attention due to its requirement of fewer sample data and good robustness. Moreover, the reliability method underscores its pivotal role in guaranteeing the longevity of suspenders and cables in practical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide more suggestions for the anti‐fatigue design of cold‐formed steel, a series of high‐cycle fatigue tests are carried out on cold‐rolled steel sheets connected by self‐tapping screws and blind rivets in this paper. Subsequently, fatigue failure mode, fatigue strength, and fatigue damage are analyzed in detail. The test results show that all effective data points are below the S‐N curve of screws in the code. Meanwhile, the fatigue limit values of the fitted curves with 95% survival probability fall within the range of 0.3 to 0.67 times the specified value. Besides, the fatigue damage expansion rate of cold‐rolled steel sheets is less than the standard value. Through further discussion, it is noticed that metal grade has little influence on the fatigue performance, while thickness has a significantly positive influence on the shear resistance and fatigue performance. Moreover, the fatigue performance of the two connection types appears to be similar. Highlights: The base metal has little effect on the fatigue performance of cold‐rolled steel connections.Thickness raises the shear and fatigue performance of cold‐rolled steel connections.The fatigue performance of the two types of cold‐rolled steel connections is similar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extremely low cycle fatigue tests, up to a total axial strain amplitude of 10%, were conducted on Fe-15Mn-10Cr-8Ni-4Si bidirectional transformation-induced plasticity (B-TRIP) steel. The fatigue life was approximately five times longer than that of SUS316 when the total strain amplitude was 4% or higher. The improved fatigue life of Fe-15Mn-10Cr-8Ni-4Si was attributed to reversible bidirectional γ ↔ ε transformation during fatigue deformation, which might mitigate fatigue damage. In contrast, the fatigue life tended to decrease with increasing strain rate when the strain rate was varied from 0.1 to 2.5%/s with a total strain amplitude of 10%. Fractography revealed that the fracture surface varied significantly with strain rate. At low strain rates, crystallographic fracture surfaces characterized by facets and secondary cracks were observed, whereas these features were not observed at high strain rates. Electron backscatter diffraction measurements of the postmortem microstructure showed that frequent ε-martensite formation occurred at low strain rates, whereas martensitic transformation was suppressed at high strain rates. The change in the specimen surface temperature was evaluated in terms of the Gibbs free energy difference between γ-austenite and ε-martensite (i.e.,ΔGγ↔ε), and the effect of strain rate on the extremely low cycle fatigue was discussed from the viewpoint of the deformation mechanism. At a low strain rate, the condition for B-TRIP to work effectively, that is, ΔGγ↔ε is negative but close to zero, was maintained over the entire life span. At a high strain rate, the deformation mechanism changed to one in which γ-austenite was dominant because of the increase in ΔGγ↔ε caused by self-heating; the fatigue damage mitigation mechanism provided by B-TRIP was less likely to occur at high strain rates, which reduced the fatigue life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue reliability-based design optimization of aeroengine structures involves multiple repeated calculations of reliability degree and large-scale calls of implicit high-nonlinearity limit state function, leading to the traditional direct Monte Claro and surrogate methods prone to unacceptable computing efficiency and accuracy. In this case, by fusing the random subspace strategy and weight allocation technology into bagging ensemble theory, a random forest (RF) model is presented to enhance the computing efficiency of reliability degree; moreover, by embedding the RF model into multilevel optimization model, an efficient RF-assisted fatigue reliability-based design optimization framework is developed. Regarding the low-cycle fatigue reliability-based design optimization of aeroengine turbine disc as a case, the effectiveness of the presented framework is validated. The reliabilitybased design optimization results exhibit that the proposed framework holds high computing accuracy and computing efficiency. The current efforts shed a light on the theory/method development of reliability-based design optimization of complex engineering structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-strength steel is a candidate material for offshore structures, which are currently being constructed with regular-strength steel. These structures are constantly exposed to harsh environmental conditions and experience cyclic loadings, which can lead to premature failure due to the synergistic effects of corrosion and fatigue. In this regard, the current study aims to investigate the effects of corrosion and High-Frequency Mechanical Impact (HFMI) treatment on the fatigue behavior of welded joints made of S700MC steel. Multipass butt-welded joints were fabricated via the Robot GMAW method at an optimally selected heat input of 0.7405 kJ/mm. The microstructure of the weldments was studied using light optical microscopy. Tensile and Vickers microhardness tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of the welded joints. To simulate marine environment corrosion in the laboratory, the as-welded samples were exposed to salt fog spray for 720 h. Subsequently, specimens were subjected to cyclic loading to evaluate their fatigue strength, while SEM and stereomicroscopy were used to analyze the fractured surfaces, providing a comprehensive understanding of the fracture mode. The findings suggest that although corrosion led to increased surface roughness and the formation of corrosion pits, its influence on the fatigue behavior of the weldments might be less significant compared to other geometrical factors, at least for the exposure time employed in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the results of an experimental investigation of fatigue shear behavior in reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) bars using the embedded through-section (ETS) technique. Thirteen ETS-FRP-strengthened beams were tested under two scenarios of medium-cycle fatigue (MCF) and high-cycle fatigue (HCF). The design variables were the number of stirrups, the FRP type, and the FRP size, and their effect on the fatigue characteristics of ETS-retrofitted RC beams was examined. The displacement and strain in flexural and shear reinforcement in the ETS-strengthened beams increased during the initial cycles and tended to stabilize during the rest of the fatigue process. Under MCF and HCF conditions, the fatigue stress ranges for longitudinal steel with ETS-FRP-strengthened beams satisfy the limits mandated in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials code. Similar to previous studies, the maximum strain of 2,000 µɛ in the ETS-FRP strengthening systems can be considered the strain limit for the fatigue design of ETS-FRP-retrofitted beams. The use of glass FRP bars with a narrow spacing substantially extended the fatigue life of ETS-strengthened beams (to more than 3,000,000 cycles) compared with unstrengthened beams and beams retrofitted with carbon FRP bars. Conversely, a large number of stirrups reduced the contribution of ETS-FRP strengthening. The strength of the retrofitted beams increased with increasing FRP elastic modulus and bar diameter. Failure of ETS-FRP-strengthened beams under fatigue tests and static tests occurred in a safe and ductile manner because no rupture of the steel stirrups or the FRP bars occurred, and no early FRP debonding was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the technical literature examining P92 steel grade, a common material used for elements of power equipment with enhanced operating parameters, there are numerous studies on creep tests. However, there is a lack of information on the fatigue processes of such materials, especially thermo-mechanical fatigue. The presented article investigates certain aspects of this phenomenon, focusing on the behavioral aspect of P92 steel under time-varying mechanical and thermal load conditions. The analysis of the behavior of the high-pressure elements of power equipment focused on the operating parameters. These parameters lead to various stress and strain fields in the elements, allowing the determination of their fatigue life. The issue of selecting fatigue life criteria for materials and forecasting the durability of elements operating under mechanical loads and time-varying elevated temperatures was also examined. In this case, the material characteristics determined under laboratory conditions and the applicable standard used by designers of power equipment were utilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthotropic steel decks (OSDs) are commonly used in the construction of bridges due to their load-bearing capabilities. However, they are prone to fatigue damage over time due to the cyclic loads from vehicles. Therefore, the early structural health monitoring of fatigue damage in OSDs is crucial for ensuring bridge safety. Moreover, Lamb waves, as elastic waves propagating in OSD plate-like structures, are characterized by their long propagation distances and minimal attenuation. This paper introduces a method of emitting high-energy ultrasonic waves onto the OSD surface to capture the nonlinear Lamb waves formed, thereby calculating the nonlinear parameters. These parameters are then correlated with the fatigue damage endured, forming a damage index (DI) for monitoring the fatigue life of OSDs. Experimental results indicate that as fatigue damage increases, the nonlinear parameters exhibit a significant initial increase followed by a decrease. The behavior is distinct from the characteristic parameters of linear ultrasound (velocity and energy), which also exhibit changes but to a relatively smaller extent. The proposed DI and fatigue life based on nonlinear parameters can be fitted with a Gaussian curve, with the R-squared value of the fitting curve being close to 1. Additionally, this paper discusses the influence of rib welds within the OSDs on the DI, whereby as fatigue damage increases, it enlarges the value of the nonlinear parameters without altering their trend. The proposed method provides a more effective approach for monitoring early fatigue damage in OSDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, the effects of the bottom shape of the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) on the molten steel flow and size distribution of argon bubbles are analyzed in a steel continuous casting slab strand using multiple‐size‐group approach. The type of nozzle bottom includes the well bottom, flat bottom, and mountain bottom. Most of argon bubbles are larger than 4.5 mm inside the SEN and the mold at the three types of nozzles. The frequency distribution of bubbles inside the SEN increases from 28.29% to 32.65% and 35.74% for 5.0–5.5 mm bubbles and decreases from 53.71–50.49% and 47.38% for 5.5–6.0 mm bubbles with the nozzle bottom varied from the flat to mountain and well shape, respectively. The number density of argon bubbles with 4.0–5.5 mm diameter in the mold decreases and increases for 5.5–6.0 mm bubbles with the nozzle bottom varying from the well to flat and mountain shape, respectively. In addition, the results of the industrial trials show that inclusions adhesion and aggregation at the bottom of the nozzle are eliminated using the flat bottom SEN casting. Meanwhile, the mechanism of SEN clogging under the different types of nozzle bottoms is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction of fatigue strength for metallic materials in a wide range of stress ratios is a crucial engineering challenge. To pursue a more accurate method, the dependence of fatigue strength on stress ratio for 35CrMo steel and other materials was investigated in detail. It was found that as the stress ratio increases, the damage mechanism changes, and the errors of the conventional models in predicting the fatigue strength increase. The reason is that those models fail to describe the fatigue damage evolution of metallic materials under some special conditions. Based on the variational fatigue damage, a new prediction method was proposed by introducing the damage parameter. Through the validation with fatigue strength covering a variety of metallic materials and loading conditions, the method exhibits higher universality. And then the corresponding parameter of the formula is further analyzed to elucidate the influences of various loading conditions on fatigue damage of materials. Highlights: The new method exhibits good generality and accuracy.The new method greatly improves the prediction efficiency.The optimized method can offer theoretical support to enhance fatigue properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new slide roller burnishing (SRB) method has been developed to produce mirror-like surfaces. Unlike conventional roller burnishing (RB), SRB is implemented through a unique device that allows the axes of the deforming roller and the rotary workpiece to cross, resulting in a relative sliding velocity that can be controlled (in magnitude and direction) by varying the crossing angle. In the present work, the effect of SRB on the fatigue behavior of AISI 316 steel fatigue specimens was investigated by comparing it with conventional RB using the following basic correlation in surface engineering: finishing–surface integrity (SI)–operating behavior. To obtain a more representative picture of the comparison, we implemented each method (RB and SRB) with two combinations of governing factors—(A) a radius of the roller toroidal surface of 3 mm, a burnishing force of 250 N, and a feed rate of 0.05 mm/rev (RB-A and SRB-A), and (B) a radius of the roller toroidal surface of 4 mm, a burnishing force of 550 N, and a feed rate of 0.11 mm/rev (RB-B and SRB- B). Both SRB-A (a crossing angle of –45°) and SRB-B (a crossing angle of –30°) achieved mirror-finish surfaces. SRB-B lead to the greatest fatigue strength and, thus, the longest fatigue life among all tested processes. SRB-B created the deepest zone (>0.5 mm) with residual compressive macro-stresses and a clearly defined modified surface layer, whose thickness of more than 20 μm is about twice that created by the other three processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a series of low-temperature CVN (Charpy V-notch impact test) and DWTT (drop-weight tear test) experiments were carried out to deal with the intensifying contradiction of strength and toughness of ultra-high-strength pipeline steel. The fracture behavior and toughening mechanisms of ultra-high-strength pipeline steel were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and backscattered electron diffraction systems. The results show that DWTT fractures in ultra-high-strength pipeline steel had a variety of unconventional morphological features compared to CVN fractures, including ridge protrusion in ductile fracture conditions and a large-size fracture platform in brittle fracture conditions. Therefore, DWTT fractures contained more information about the material fracturing process, and could better reflect the actual process of material fracturing. In ultra-high-strength pipeline steel, fine-grained granular bainite caused cracks to undergo large deflections or frequent small transitions, which consumed additional energy and improved toughness. In contrast, large-sized granular bainite, which consisted of low-angle grain boundaries, did not effectively prevent crack propagation when it encountered cracks, which was not conducive to improved toughness. Moreover, the M/A constituents in large-sized granular bainite aggregated, cracked, or fell off, which could easily lead to the formation of microcracks and was also detrimental to toughening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fatigue performance of steel–concrete composite beams is crucial for ensuring structural safety. To account for the member's multiaxial stress state, this study employed the critical surface method, using fatigue damage parameters as an evaluation index for assessing fatigue performance. Static and fatigue performance tests on steel–concrete beams were conducted to identify failure characteristics, which informed the development of a finite element model that incorporates concrete damage. Using the SWT model, the most unfavorable loading parameters were determined by analyzing critical paths on the test beams, providing a basis for predicting how initial defects impact fatigue performance. The impact of initial defects on the fatigue performance of the composite beam is assessed using this criterion. The results indicate that the discrepancy between the actual and predicted load capacities of the test beam is within 5%, and cyclic loading significantly affects the test beam's mechanical properties, resulting in a 27% reduction in load capacity and a 48% increase in deflection after 2 million cycles. Finite element modeling reveals that components experience multiaxial stress, with test beam mechanical property changes aligning with predicted fatigue damage parameters, confirming the reliability of using these parameters as a criterion. As the strength of the composite beams diminished due to pore defects, the fatigue damage parameter escalated, increasing the likelihood of crack formation. However, once the concrete's strength fell to a level where the pegs were insufficiently constrained, the structural damage pattern shifted, and the fatigue damage parameter subsequently decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an analysis of the low-cycle fatigue (LCF) properties of C45, X20Cr13, and 34CrNiMo6 steels subjected to various heat treatment processes. Strain-controlled LCF tests were carried out with a total cyclic strain amplitude equal to 0.5, 1 and 1.5%. Fatigue life, cyclic stress-strain behavior and hardness were analyzed. Qualitative and quantitative relationships between material LCF properties resulting from the heat treatment processes, were related to the indentation force P*, which was derived experimentally by applying an instrumented indentation procedure with the use of the Vickers indenter. The proposed parameter P* and its changes ΔP* seem to be promising for the identification of the structural stress parameter σ* that is necessary for deriving values of the fatigue strength coefficients σf' corresponding to different tempering temperatures. The common feature of all steels analyzed in this paper is that the elastic parts of the strain-life characteristics remain parallel after being subjected to different tempering temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fatigue behavior of a high-strength bearing steel tempered under three different temperatures was investigated with ultrasonic frequency and conventional frequency loading. Three kinds of specimens with various yield strengths exhibited obvious higher fatigue strengths under ultrasonic frequency loading. Then, a 2D crystal plasticity finite element method was adopted to simulate the local stress distribution under different applied loads and loading frequencies. Simulations showed that the maximum residual local stress was much smaller under ultrasonic frequency loading in contrast to that under conventional frequency at the same applied load. It was also revealed that the maximum local stress increases with the applied load under both loading frequencies. The accumulated plastic strain was adopted as a fatigue indicator parameter to characterize the frequency effect, which was several orders smaller than that obtained under conventional loading frequencies when the applied load was fixed. The increment of accumulated plastic strain and the load stress amplitude exhibited a linear relationship in the double logarithmic coordinate system, and an improved fatigue life prediction model was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) is increasingly used to improve the fatigue behavior of damaged steel structures due to its advantages, including high strength and convenient processing. However, several issues, such as the effects of the adhesive property and CFRP arrangement, still need to be studied. In this study, a total of 20 single‐cracked steel specimens were tested under fatigue load, including two unstrengthened specimens, six single‐sided strengthened specimens, and 12 double‐sided strengthened specimens. The failure mode, fatigue life, crack propagation pattern, and interface damage development were obtained from experiments. The results show that epoxy resin structural adhesives (adhesives Araldite 420 and J133C) have the best bonding properties with CFRP. For the conventional epoxy adhesives, Araldite 420 and J133C can considerably improve fatigue life, which increased by more than 44.84 times to unstrengthened specimens. CFRP plate strengthening can significantly improve the fatigue life of single‐edge cracked steel plates. For the double‐sided strengthened specimens, the fatigue life can be improved by 6.93–44.84 times that of unstrengthened specimens. For the single‐sided, the fatigue life can be improved by 2.24–2.77 times. Properties of epoxy adhesive have a more significant effect on fatigue life compared to the thickness of the CFRP plate due to debonding. Highlights: Ductile epoxy adhesives are most conducive to improving the fatigue behavior of CFRP strengthened steel plates.The fatigue life of steel plates can be improved by increasing the thickness of CFRP plates and using double‐sided CFRP strengthening.Interface debonding is the main failure mode of CFRP plates strengthening single‐edge cracked steel plates under fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Load‐bearing capacity tests on large scale test specimens for modular polygon tower sections of wind turbines The verification for stability and fatigue of steel towers for onshore wind‐turbines require large dimensions due to the high static and dynamic loads. Since, the rated power as well as the hub height will further increase for wind turbines in the future, also the dimensions of the tower must be increased. Some kind of turbines will require a tower base diameter of > 4.5 m. Tubular steel sections with this dimensions cannot be transported (economically) by road. Therefore modular construction methods have been developed, whereby the tubular steel sections consist of longitudinally divided segments, which will finally assembled on site. Furthermore, the detail design of the connections between the structural components is also a challenge when planning wind turbines for the next generation. As a technical alternative to the existing tower configurations, a concept for a modular polygon tower made of steel is presented, where single plate segments can be connected along the longitudinal edges using extruded profiles so that no further bolted or welded connections are required for the final assembly on site. This technical proposal allows a longitudinal manufacturing of tower segments with steel plates but without any formwork with rolling and bending machines. As part of a research project, the technical feasibility of a modular polygon tower for a hub height of 200 m and a wind turbine class with 10 MW rated power was analysed to offer technical solutions for the next generation of onshore wind turbines. Load cases were generated for a fictitious reference wind turbine to carry out a pre‐design for the tower sections. A test programme was created on the basis of the calculated tower dimensions and ultimate load bearing tests were carried out on test specimens at a scale of 1 : 10. This paper presents the results of the experimental investigations, comparing the load‐bearing capacity of the various tower configurations and the observed failure mechanisms are explained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of significant parameters influencing the fatigue strength of typical details – experimental investigations The phenomenon of fatigue plays a significant role in many constructions of modern infrastructure. Therefore, the fatigue assessment of steel structures is of great importance. In order to make fatigue design acc. to DIN EN 1993‐1‐9 more efficient, important influencing factors on the fatigue strength of standard fatigue details were analyzed in the research project EVOKERB. This contribution presents the corresponding experimental research results, with a focus on influences related to geometry, manufacturing, and weld quality. In addition, test data from the literature are included through a soon‐to‐be‐publicly‐available fatigue test database. The database comprises the essential background data of DIN EN 1993‐1‐9. In summary, the presented test results identify or exclude important influences on the fatigue strength of typical details. In the future, the scope of investigations will be expanded through numerical simulations, allowing for the derivation of general normative rules. These rules are intended to contribute to a more efficient fatigue assessment – an important step towards greater resource efficiency and sustainability in steel construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Materials used in nuclear power plants are exposed to cyclic loading, which is why the understanding of fatigue behaviour is of great importance. Because of high time investments and resulting increased costs, Lifetime Prediction Methods, which significantly reduce the amount of specimen, have already been developed. Within this paper, the Lifetime Prediction Method MiDAcLifeincr is presented, which enables a determination of a trend S‐N curve in the High‐Cycle‐Fatigue‐regime based on only one fatigue test and the combination of conventional fatigue testing with NDT‐related measurement techniques. The process‐orientated monitoring of the cyclic deformation behaviour provides the basis for the time‐ and cost‐effective provision of fatigue data. Compared with previous methods, the consideration of variable loading is an essential aspect of the research application. The test material is a 20MnMoNi5‐5 steel, the results of which are extended to include other steels for validation reasons. Highlights: The new method enables a fatigue life calculation on the basis of only one fatigue test.A correlation between the material reaction and the introduced damage could be found.The applicability of the method is independently of the applied measurement technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of non-conventional and renewable energy sources places a tremendous strain on generic sources of power generation, which have been historically conceived and designed for constant-load criteria, as they are compelled to conform to a 'fluctuating' mode of operation so as to comply with modern-day energy requirements. Power plants undergo a starting schedule, followed by sustained operation at intermediate loads when the energy requirement is mediocre. This renders the evaluation of material behaviour under creep-fatigue conditions, a critical component of failure prevention and prediction. ASTM has come up with a standard E-2760 for creep-fatigue crack growth (CFCG) testing, wherein Compact tension, C(T) specimens, are subjected to trapezoidal loading waveforms. In this article, the crack tunnelling phenomenon has been objectively evaluated along with exploring the propagation of crack growth fronts and the crack tip opening angles (CTOA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure, mechanical and fatigue properties of two kinds of complex steel (CP800 and CP690) were studied. Bainite was identified by the unique peak in Kikuchi band contrast diagram. Surface quality had little effect on the fatigue lifetime of coarse-grained steel (CP690). A model is proposed to unify the fatigue lifetime of two kinds of complex phase steels with different grain sizes, based on the defect effective projected area model. The model is valid for specimens with wire electrical discharge machining surface quality. The fatigue process is analyzed using the crystal plasticity finite element modeling. The results show that strain localization tends to occur in grains with relatively soft orientation but not in grains with the softest orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

S420M steel subjected to strain-controlled low-cycle fatigue does not exhibit a period of cyclic properties stabilization. The maximum stress on a cycle continuously drops until fracture. For this reason, it is difficult to plan experimental research for different types of control in such a way that their results can be considered comparable. The aim of this paper is to present and discuss the results of tests conducted in various conditions of low-cycle fatigue of S420M steel specimens, both undeformed and pre-strained. In both loading conditions, after initial deformation, a significant change in the cyclic properties of steel described by the parameters of the hysteresis loop was observed. Also, the fatigue life of the pre-strained specimens appeared to be different from unstrained specimens and was affected by the test loading conditions. The reduction in life under controlled stress conditions was attributed to the increase in the extent of plastic deformation and stress and the occurrence of creep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridge cable wires suffer from alternating stress and environmental erosion, leading to premature failure prior to its design life. This paper investigates the fatigue and mechanical behaviors of corroded bridge cable wires with a zinc–aluminum (Zn-Al) alloy coating. Based on the salt spray corrosion test and microstructure analysis, the anti-corrosion resistance and corrosion appearance characteristics of the Zn-Al alloy coating and galvanized coating were investigated. The Zn-Al alloy coating was superior in resistance to corrosion fatigue for the improvement in toughness and the generation of anti-corrosion Zn-Al and Fe-Zn-Al phases. Equations of the accelerated corrosion depth of the steel wires had been regressed to roughly estimate the corrosion life of the Zn-Al alloy coating, which can reach 29.1 years with a thickness of 70 μm. The fatigue and mechanical properties of the bare wires after the salt spray test were further studied based on tensile tests and fatigue tests. The fatigue properties of the bridge cable wire would decrease with the corrosion degree due to the deterioration and embrittlement of materials, where ductility characterized by the elongation rate was the most affected. Fracture surfaces of the wires were captured and analyzed based on a method for recognizing graphical contours. Insufficient fatigue life may occur in the steel wires after corrosion and increase with the degree of corrosion. The pit depth logarithmically weakened the fatigue life of steel wires for the weakening of fatigue toughness and the bearing area. The flat fracture was more common with a single fatigue source, while multiple fatigue sources led to step-like fractures for the generation of multiple dispersed crack propagation regions. Corrosion fatigue was more sensitive to the existence of fatigue sources than the reduction. Multiple initiation sources significantly reduced the fatigue life due to the cracking facilitation of the joint effect of multiple pits. The electrochemical reactions of corrosion can lead to material embrittlement and a reducing effect on the fracture toughness of the steel wires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the residual stress relaxation behaviors and fatigue strength, EA4T steel specimens are subjected to micro-shot peening (MSP), and part of them are isothermally annealed at 250 °C for 2 hours. Fatigue experiments are conducted on a four-point rotating bending machine under constant and variable loads. Surface compressive residual stress (CRS) and full width at half maximum (FWHM) before the experiment and during fatigue loading are analyzed using the x-ray diffraction method. The results indicate that the CRS of the MSP specimens are relaxed after the isothermal annealing, leading to a decrease in their fatigue strengths. Variable loading slightly increased the fatigue life of the un-peened specimen, but significantly reduced that of the MSP specimens. The effect of CRS relaxation on fatigue strength is analyzed, and the relationship between CRS and FWHM is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the technical conditions and performance for historic bridges is essential to ensure their structural safety and determine their need for strengthening. This study investigates the first railway steel bridge built in China in 1894, which is listed as a national preservation unit and industrial heritage site. The bridge was not only exposed to years of weather change but also suffered a geological disaster in 1976. In addition, the surroundings have changed, including the construction of new railway lines and scenic areas. Thus, it is imperative to evaluate its technical conditions and performance, particularly its material properties. To this end, evaluation procedures were formulated. First, the material composition, properties, and grades of steel were determined by microstructural analysis: the grade of nonmetallic inclusions in steel was determined by metallographic analysis; the corrosion rate of steel was obtained by electrochemical analysis; and the crystal type, size, element product of the corrosion layer, as well as the fracture type of the steel, were analyzed by phase composition and elemental analysis. Next, the static performance indices of the steel were obtained by mechanical property tests: the hardness value of the steel was obtained from hardness test; the yield and tensile strengths of the steel were obtained from tensile tests; and the fatigue properties of the steel were analyzed through fatigue tests. The S-N curve of the steel was determined by fitting the tested data. This study provides a reference for the evaluation of the technical conditions and performance of historic bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the recrystallization behavior of cold‐rolled silicon steel during continuous heating is essential for optimizing continuous annealing parameters and accurately controlling material performance. To address the limitations of isothermal annealing studies in interpreting actual continuous annealing processes, this study investigates the recrystallization kinetics of Fe–2.3 wt%Si steel using a continuous heating three‐point bending method. The method effectively determines the characteristic recrystallization temperatures. Interestingly, these recrystallization characteristic temperatures remain unaffected by the initial load but shift toward higher temperatures with increasing heating rates in the range of 5–15 °C min−1. The average activation energy of recrystallization is estimated to be 144.5 kJ mol−1, comparable to the value of 147.0 kJ mol−1 obtained from the isothermal process through microhardness measurement. The recrystallization kinetics, described by an extended version of the Ozawa–Flynn–Wall model, exhibits excellent agreement with experimental evaluations. By combining the present processing technologies with continuous heating recrystallization kinetics, different recrystallization temperatures and times can be determined, offering valuable insights for optimizing annealing processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last few decades, the advancements made in material characterisation equipment and physics-based multiscale material modeling have generated vast database in the field of Material Science and Engineering. This has inspired material innovators to attempt predicting mechanical properties of synthesised materials using big-data so as to reduce the cost, time and effort for materials innovation. However, the impact of collinerarity has always been a matter of concern in emperical research, specially in such predictions of mechanical properties. In the present work, we revisit NIMS database for steel and study the effect of multicollinearity on regression based models for predicting fatigue strength for the material. We use an iterative scheme to isolate highly correlated parameters contributing in determination of the fatigue strength of the steel. We then construct a regression model using only the non-correlated parameters to make the model more efficient computationally. Our results show that the regression model built after consideration of multicollinearity of the variables provide better performance in comparison with regression model built without consideration of the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tikrit Journal of Engineering Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Wind turbine (WT) foundations with an embedded steel ring (ESR) are widely used in onshore WTs due to construction convenience. The research group found that WT foundations with damage were often accompanied by blade issues. To investigate the potential correlation between aerodynamic imbalance and fatigue damage of the WT foundation with an ESR, this study focuses on a 2 MW WT with an ESR. It investigates the influence of an error in pitch angle (PAE) on the WT's foundation load and stress, utilizing one year of SCADA data to analyze the fatigue damage caused by PAE. The main conclusions are as follows: Firstly, the effect of PAE on the amplitude value of load and stress is significantly greater than on the average value of load and stress. Secondly, when the PAE is within the range of −3° to 3°, the foundation fatigue damage incurred over one year is minimal, but once this limit is exceeded, the foundation fatigue damage increases dramatically. Thirdly, the peak value of fatigue damage to the foundation caused by PAE does not necessarily occur in the main wind direction, but in the direction with the highest probability of the occurrence of high wind speeds, and the larger the PAE, the more significant the trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]