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Material Science / September 14, 2021

Crack Initiation and Propagation

Stages is fatigue failure: I. crack initiation at high stress points (stress raisers) II. propagation (incremental in each cycle) III. final failure by fracture Stage I – propagation •   slow •   along crystallographic planes of high shear stress •   flat and featureless fatigue surface Stage II – propagation Crack propagates by repetitive plastic blunting and sharpening of the crack tip.

Stages is fatigue failure:

I. crack initiation at high stress points (stress raisers) II. propagation (incremental in each cycle)

III. final failure by fracture

Stage I – propagation

•   slow

•   along crystallographic planes of high shear stress

•   flat and featureless fatigue surface

Stage II – propagation

Crack propagates by repetitive plastic blunting and sharpening of the crack tip.