Propagation Law of Fatigue Cracks Based on a Stochastic Model for Damage Accumulation

Cracks in Large Scale Yielding and Mode II Cracks

Abstract

Previously a stochastic model for damage accumulation was proposed to obtain an expression for the fatigue crack propagation rate in small scale yielding. In this paper, the model is used to derive the propagation laws of (1) fatigue cracks in large scale yielding and (2) mode II fatigue cracks. The theoretical results show a good agreement with the experimental data. This suggests an extensive applicability of the present model. On these theoretical bases, it is concluded that the fatigue crack propagation rate is proportional to some power of the fracture process region size.