An Analysis of the Effects of Adsorbing Oxygen on the Fatigue Crack Healing of Lead Using an Extended Tersoff Interatomic Potential

Abstract

The effects of adsorbing oxygen molecules (O₂) on the healing of the newly created surfaces of a fatigue crack of lead (Pb) are analyzed using an extended Tersoff interatomic potencial function. At first, the properties of Pb, O₂, and PbO₂ are calculated by using this function. The calculated values of the properties agree well with the observed values. Next, the simulations of the creation of new surfaces of a crack, the adsorption of O₂ to the surfaces, and the closing of the surfaces are carried out using this function. The simulation shows that the healing of surfaces is suppressed by O₂. Moreover, the effect of air pressure on the fatigue life is calculated based on an energy curve obtained from the simulation. The calculated results show good agreement with the experimental results.