Giovanni Fortese

Life estimation by varying the critical plane orientation in the modified Carpinteri-Spagnoli criterion

The modified Carpinteri-Spagnoli (C-S) criterion is a multiaxial high-cycle fatigue criterion based on the critical plane approach. According to such a criterion, the orientation of the critical plane is linked to both the averaged directions of the principal stress axes and the fatigue properties of the material. The latter dependence is taken into account through a rotational angle, ?. Then, the multiaxial fatigue strength estimation is performed by computing an equivalent stress amplitude on the critical plane. In the present paper, some modifications of the original ? expression are implemented in the modified C-S criterion. More precisely, such modified expressions of ? depend on the ratio between the fatigue limit under fully reversed shear stress and that under fully reversed normal stress (in accordance with the original expression), and can be employed for metals ranging from mild to very hard fatigue behaviour. Some experimental data available in the literature are compared with the theoretical results in order to verify if the modified ?expressions are able to improve the fatigue strength estimation capability of the modified C-S criterion.

Joined application of a multiaxial critical plane criterion and a strain energy density criterion in low-cycle fatigue

In the present paper, the multiaxial fatigue life assessment of notched structural components is performed by employing a strain-based multiaxial fatigue criterion. Such a criterion, depending on the critical plane concept, is extended by implementing the control volume concept reated to the Strain Energy Density (SED) approach: a material point located at a certain distance from the notch tip is assumed to be the verification point where to perform the above assessment. Such a distance, measured along the notch bisector, is a function of both the biaxiality ratio (defined as the ratio between the applied shear stress amplitude and the normal stress amplitude) and the control volume radii under Mode I and Mode III. Once the position of the verification point is determined, the fatigue lifetime is assessed through an equivalent strain amplitude, acting on the critical plane, together with a unique material reference curve (i.e. the Manson-Coffin curve). Some uniaxial and multiaxial fatigue data related to V-notched round bars made of titanium grade 5 alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) are examined to validate the present criterion.

Fretting High-Cycle Fatigue Assessment through a Multiaxial Critical Plane-Based Criterion in Conjunction with the Taylor’s Point Method

The critical plane-based multiaxial criterion originally proposed by the authors for plain fatigue is here applied to estimate the crack initiation life of fretting high-cycle fatigued structural components. Although fretting fatigue can be regarded as a case of multiaxial fatigue, the common multiaxial fatigue criteria have to be modified to account for the severe stress gradients in the contact zone. Therefore, the above criterion is used in conjunction with the Taylor’s point method to numerically estimate the fatigue life of Ti-6Al-4V and Al-4Cu specimens under cylindrical contacts.

Mechanical Behaviour and Phase Transition Mechanisms of a Shape Memory Alloy by Means of a Novel Analytical Model

Abstract The aim of the present paper is to examine both the fatigue behaviour and the phase transition mechanisms of an equiatomic pseudo-elastic NiTi Shape Memory Alloy through cyclic tests (up to 100 loading cycles). More precisely, miniaturised dog-bone specimens are tested by using a customised testing machine and the contents of both austenite and martensite phase are experimentally measured by means of X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. On the basis of such experimental results in terms of martensite content, an analytical model is here formulated to correlate the stress-strain relationship to the phase transition mechanisms. Finally, a validation of the present model by means of experimental data pertaining the stress-strain relationship is performed.

Investigation of Mode I fracture toughness of red Verona marble after thermal treatment

The present paper aims to assess the effect of freeze/thaw cycles on fracture behaviour of a natural stone: the red Verona marble. A wide variety of specimen types and methods to determine Mode I fracture toughness of natural stones are available in the literature and, in this context, the model originally proposed for plain concrete, i.e. the Two-Parameter Model (TPM), is adopted. Such a method is able to take into account the slow nonlinear crack growth occurring before the peak load, typical of quasi-brittle materials, with the advantage of easy specimen preparation and simple test configuration. In the present paper, the atmospheric ageing is simulated by means of thermal pre-treatments consisting of freeze/thaw cycles. Experimental tests are carried out using three-point bending Single-Edge Notched (SEN) specimens, according to the TPM procedure. The effects of thermal treatment on both mechanical and fracture parameters are examined in terms of elastic modulus and fracture toughness, respectively. KEYWORDS. Mode I Fracture Toughness; Red Verona Marble; Thermal Treatment; Two-Parameter Model.