Abstract
Some microstructural factors affecting cracking behaviour in biaxial fatigue were investigated in this work. A basic model proposed previously was developed in the analysis. The model consisted of an aggregate model of square elementary grains with double primary-conjugate slip system, and a competition model between the linkage dominant growth and the propagation of a single crack. The model was modified by introducing a clustering procedure to be appropriate for more general applications. Simulations based on the modified model were conducted on cracking behaviour in Inconel 718 with a duplex grain structure and in SAE 1045 with aligned large inclusions. Simulated results on cracking morphology and failure life were found to be in good agreement with experimental observations in the materials.
