An Analytical Model for the Identification of the Threshold of Stress Intensity Factor Range for Crack Growth

Abstract

The value of the stress intensity factor (SIF) range threshold ΔKth for fatigue crack growth (FCG) depends highly on its experimental identification. The identification and application of ΔKth are not well established as its determination depends on various factors including experimental, numerical, or analytical techniques used. A new analytical model which can fit the raw FCG experimental data is proposed. The analytical model proposed is suitable to fit with high accuracy the experimental data and is capable of estimating the threshold SIF range. The comparison between the threshold SIF range identified with the model proposed and those found in the literature is also discussed. ΔKth identified is found to be quite accurate and consistent when compared to the literature with a maximum deviation of 5.61%. The accuracy with which the analytical model is able to fit the raw data is also briefly discussed.