Fatigue crack growth model for constant amplitude loading.

A fatigue crack growth model under constant amplitude loading has been developed considering energy balance during growth of the crack. The plastic energy dissipated during growth of a crack within cyclic plastic zone and area below cyclic stress-strain curve was used in the energy balance. The near crack tip elastic-plastic stress and strain were calculated on the basis of Hutchinson, Rice and Rosengren (HRR) formulations. Fatigue crack growth rate in linear and near threshold region of da/dN versus ΔK curve can be determined on the basis of the proposed model in terms of low cycle fatigue (LCF) properties determined on smooth specimen. The predictions of the model have been compared with the experimental and theoretical results available in the literature using mechanical and fatigue properties. The model compares well in the threshold and intermediate region of the da/dN versus ΔK curve for wide range of material tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]