The Effect of Fatigue Crack Growth on Mechanical Residual Stress Redistribution

In this study, the effect of fatigue loading on the redistribution of mechanical residual stresses in compact tension specimens has been investigated. Fatigue crack growth experimental tests were conducted in accordance with E647 standard for specimens with and without initial residual stress. To investigate the crack tip plastic zone and fracture mechanics parameters finite element analysis using ABAQUS was used. The results showed that the initial residual stress redistributed after a few cycles of fatigue loading. Redistribution depends on the amplitude of cyclic loading. Near crack tip plastic zone area also decrease after a few cycles and reaches a stable value. In experimental tests, the fatigue life of specimens with mechanical residual stresses was lower than specimen having no residual stresses.