Fatigue limit by thermal analysis of specimen surface in mono axial traction test

Abstract

In this work is indicated how it could be possible to evaluate the limit stress of the thermo-elastic phase of deformation by thermo-analysing the surface of the specimen during a static traction test. Adding the temperature curve measured on a small area of the surface (the hottest) to the classic stress-strain curve, it is possible to evaluate a limit temperature T0 coincident with the beginning of the non linear trend of the curve. The corresponding stress value is coincident with the fatigue limit of the analyzed component. As an example, the results of traction tests performed on two notched specimens, where the change of linearity in the temperature curve during static traction test was evident, are reported. The corresponding value of stress was a good approximation of the fatigue limit for R = - 1, determined by the conventional method. The aim of the reported examples in this paper must be interpreted as support to the basic principle of the method and not as the results of a complete experimental planning of which we will comment in an another occasion.