A crack closure model for the fatigue behavior of notched components and welded joints

Newman's Dugdale strip-yield model for crack closure was modified to estimate the crack-closure behavior of cracks emanating from notches. The results obtained using this crack-tip plastic deformation model showed that the estimated effective stress-intensity ratio ;A model termed the Strip-Yield Model for Notched Components (SYMNC) that incorporates the notch plastic stretches into the original strip-yield model was proposed for simulating the crack-closure behavior of cracks propagating in the vicinity of a notch. The validity and the efficiency of this model was verified by comparing the predicted results with the published experimental data of various notched components and stress-relieved weldments.;The effect of residual stress on the crack propagation behavior was studied using the crack-closure concept with the SYMNC model. The SYMNC model combined the weld toe plastic deformation and the residual stress effects, and in this form was used to study the crack-closure behavior of as-welded joints. The fatigue lives of weldments were simulated using the SYMNC model.