Open Access

ARTICLE

Interaction Multiple Interacting and Coalescing Semi-Elliptical Surface Cracks in Fatigue-Part II: Experimental Study

S. K. Patel¹, B. Dattaguru², K. Ramachandra³

1 Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Bangalore
2 Department of Aerospace Engineering, Jain University, Bangalore (formerly at) Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
3 Formerly at Gas Turbine Research Establishment, Bangalore

Structural Longevity 2010, 3(1), 59-86. https://doi.org/10.3970/sl.2010.003.059

Abstract

A crack growth model for multiple surface cracks has been proposed and used in the study of multiple interacting and coalescing semi-elliptical cracks. Using this crack growth model the effect of multi-site damage on residual life is studied in detail. The stress intensity factor, crack shape development and crack propagation life are discussed. Numerical predictions of crack propagation lives have been verified by an experiment crack growth study on specimens having coplanar multiple semi-elliptical cracks made of an aero-engine disk material. The crack shape evolution and life estimated from numerical methods are found to be in good agreement with the experimental results.

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