Mandana Arzaghi

Fatigue Crack Growth in Ultrafine-Grained Copper Obtained by ECAP

The propagation of long fatigue cracks in ultra fine-grained (UFG) copper obtained by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) is investigated in the mid ΔK range and in the near threshold regime. The crack growth rates in UFG copper are substantially faster than in coarse-grained (CG) copper. A huge influence of environment is observed, with growth rates faster of more than two orders of magnitude in air compared to vacuum. The crack growth mechanisms are discussed on the basis of microfractographic observations and the deformation texture.

A Cohesive Zone Model to Simulate Fatigue Crack Propagation under High Pressure Gaseous Hydrogen

In this study we focus on the effect of hydrogen gas on the cracking resistance of metals. The main objective is to predict the fatigue crack propagation rates in the presence of hydrogen. For this purpose, a Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) dedicated to cracking under monotonic as well as cyclic loadings has been implemented in the ABAQUS finite element code. A specific traction-separation law, adapted to describe the gradual degradation of the cohesive stresses under cyclic loading, and sensitive to the presence of hydrogen is formulated. The coupling between mechanical behaviour and diffusion of hydrogen can be modelled using a coupled temperature - displacement calculation available in ABAQUS. The simulations are compared with fatigue crack propagation tests performed on a 15-5PH martensitic stainless steel. They show that while the proposed model is able to predict a lower resistance to cracking in presence of hydrogen, at this stage it cannot fully account for the detrimental effect induced by high pressure of gaseous hydrogen.

Hydrogen Assisted Fatigue Crack Growth in a Precipitation-Hardened Martensitic Stainless Steel Under Gaseous Hydrogen

In this study, the effect of gaseous hydrogen on the fatigue crack growth behavior in a precipitation-hardened martensitic stainless steel is investigated. It is known that the degradation in fatigue crack growth behavior derives from a complex interaction between the fatigue damage and the amount of hydrogen enriching the crack tip, which is dependent on the hydrogen pressure, loading frequency, and stress intensity factor amplitude. Therefore, fatigue crack growth tests were performed in a range of 0.09 to 40 MPa under gaseous hydrogen at a frequency of 20 and 0.2 Hz. The fatigue data as well as fracture morphologies obtained so far indicate a sharp increase in crack growth rates in a narrow range of stress intensity factor amplitudes. Also, it is shown that by decreasing the loading frequency to 0.2 Hz at a given pressure of hydrogen the transition occurs at lower values of stress intensity factor amplitudes accompanied by a change in fracture mode. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of the fracture surfaces are used to support the explanations proposed to account for the observed phenomena.Copyright

Cohesive Zone Modeling of Hydrogen Assisted Cracking in a 15-5 PH Steel and Comparison With Experiments

Gaseous hydrogen substantially reduces fracture properties such as threshold stress intensity factor and crack growth resistance in the precipitation-hardened martensitic stainless steel investigated in this study. Fatigue crack propagation tests were performed on CT specimens under different atmospheres (hydrogen pressures from 0.09 to 40 MPa) on the Hycomat test bench, at the Pprime Institute in Poitiers, France. A strongly enhanced crack growth regime was identified at high hydrogen pressure and low-frequency loading. Crack growth rates obtained at a constant load under same pressure levels suggest that a combination of tensile stresses above a threshold (KIscc) and fatigue cycles contribute to the hydrogen embrittlement at the crack tip.These experimental results were compared to the finite element simulation results obtained by a recently developed cohesive zone model at the crack tip. A specifically developed traction-separation law which is suitable to describe the gradual degradation of cohesive stresses under monotonic and cyclic loadings, and which is furthermore sensitive to the hydrogen concentration was used. The effects of the different testing conditions, in terms of loading frequency and hydrogen pressure, on the modeling results are discussed. It was shown that the model qualitatively predicts the detrimental influence of gaseous hydrogen on the crack growth rates.Copyright

Near threshold fatigue crack growth in ultrafinegrained copper

The near threshold fatigue crack growth in ultrafine-grained (UFG) copper at room temperature was studied in comparison to conventional coarse-grained (CG) copper. The fatigue crack growth rates da/dN in UFG copper were enhanced at ΔK ≤ 7 MPa√m compared to the CG material. The crack closure shielding, as evaluated using the compliance variation technique, was shown to explain these differences. The effective stress intensity factor amplitude AKeff appears to be the same driving force in both materials. Tests performed in high vacuum on UFG copper demonstrate the existence of a huge effect of environment with growth rates higher of about two orders of magnitude in air compared to high vacuum. This environmental effect on the crack path and the related microstructure is discussed on the basis of fractography observations performed using scanning electron microscope and completed with field emission scanning electron microscope combined with the focused ion beam technique.

Fatigue Crack Growth in a Precipitation-Hardened Martensitic Stainless Steel: Influence of Ageing, Temperature and Loading History

The 15-5PH (precipitation-hardened) martensitic stainless steel is prone to embrittlement following ageing during service at temperatures between 300°C and 350°C. This results in an increase in strength and a decrease in elongation and fracture toughness. However little information is available on the consequences of long term ageing on fatigue crack growth resistance. In the present study this issue is precisely addressed at room temperature and 300°C, with different load ratio under constant amplitude loading and under variable amplitude loading.At room temperature, the results indicate a marginal effect of the load ratio, regardless of ageing conditions and temperature. While the Paris regime is not affected by ageing, a significant drop in the critical stress intensity value before unstable fracture is observed, reflecting a decrease in fracture toughness of the material with ageing. At 300°C, the FCGRs are higher than at room temperature for all ageing conditions. Variable amplitude loading tests carried out on differently-aged materials showed the same retardation effect.

Influence of crack front shape on 3D numerical modelling of plasticity- induced closure of short and long fatigue cracks

The simultaneous effect of crack length and crack front shape on plasticity-induced crack closure (PICC) for a 304L austenitic stainless steel is simulated through 3D numerical modelling using finite element software Abaqus for through-thickness cracks with different curved crack fronts in CT specimens in comparison with bidimensional through crack with a straight front. The influence of possible loading history effect is avoided by applying constant K amplitude. The local stress intensity factor range for crack opening Kop is evaluated from the simulation of the loss of the last local contact between the crack lips near the crack tip. The pertinence of the different crack front shapes is discussed in term of the effective stress intensity factor range Keff and in comparison with the experimental crack front observations.