Prediction of fretting fatigue damage under variable loading blocks: Effect of plasticity
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This research paper investigates the lifetime span and the crack propagation mechanism for a steel cylinder/plane contact under severe variable plastic fretting fatigue conditions that are representative of high pressure dynamic flexible pipe risers. An FEA model was used to predict the total life of the contact by separating the crack nucleation and the crack propagation mechanisms. Good correlation between numerical predictions and experimental results was obtained. Since fretting is well known for generating important stress gradients, a non-local critical distance method is applied to estimate the number of cycles required for crack nucleation. The crack propagation was addressed using Kujawski’s fatigue crack driving parameter with Paris law. The variable loading conditions were investigated considering decreasing tangential force and fatigue stress loading blocks and comparing various elastic and elastic–plastic material responses. Since significant plastic deformations are generated during the initial loading blocks (the highly charged block), better predictions of crack extension or fretting fatigue endurance are achieved using elastoplastic hypotheses (monotonic or cyclic hardening). By contrast, elastic assumption which is less accurate provides systematic conservative predictions.
Source: International Journal of Fatigue
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanics of Materials
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,940
OpenAlex ID: W4409841282