A. An investigation of the relation between the tensile strength and (Brinell) hardness of non-ferrous alloys. B. A design of a fatigue testing machine for a college laboratory

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Microstructural analysis of pre-strained TRIP steel after fatigue testing

The widespread introduction of multiphase sheet steels in the automotive industry has led to considerable interest in the fatigue properties of these materials. The different microstructural phases within matelials such as TRIP steels can influence the fatigue behaviour due to the manner in which the cyclic strain is accommodated within these phases. In this study fully reversed straincontrolled fatigue tests were perfonnrmed on a commercially-produced uncoated TRIP 780 steel both in the as-received and 20 % prestrained condition. The pre-strained TRIP steel showed significant cyclic softening at higher strain amplitudes, whereas some initial work hardening was observed at lower strain amplitudes before cyclic softening. The cyclic stabilised strength of the pre-strained TRIP steel was independent of strain amplitude, while the cyclic stabilised strength of the as-received TRIP steel increased with strain amplitude. Transmission Electron Microscopy TEM was used to examine the effect of the cyclic deformation on the microstructure of the different conditions, with the differences in fatigue behaviour explained based on the differences in the deformation structure formed within the steel (i.e. dislocation density and sub-structure and microband formation).

Bending fatigue testing of commercial purity titanium for dental implants

High fatigue strength is one of the major requirements for dental implant materials. It was previously shown that the fatigue strength under conventional stress-control tension–compression testing can be doubled for commercially pure (CP) titanium processed by equal channel angular pressing. However, the fatigue endurance of an implant exposed to cyclic loading in corrosive media (bodily fluids) may potentially be compromised. In this work, non-conventional bending fatigue testing in air and in simulated body fluid (SBF) has been carried out for coarse-grained and ultrafine-grained CP titanium.

Towards an appropriate fatigue loading sequence for roof claddings in cyclone prone areas

Currently two different fatigue tests are being used to investigate the fatigue susceptibility of roof claddings in the cyclone prone areas of Australia. In order to resolve this issue a detailed investigation was conducted to study the nature of cyclonic wind forces using wind tunnel testing and computer modelling and the fatigue behaviour of metal roof claddings using structural testing. This led to the development of an accurate, but complicated loading matrix for a design cyclone. Based on this matrix, a simplified low-high-low loading sequence has been developed for the testing of roofing systems in cyclone prone areas. This paper first reviews the currently used fatigue loading sequences, then presents details of the cyclonic wind loading matrix and finally the development of the new simplified loading sequence. This simplified sequence should become the only suitable test for most of the cyclone prone areas of Australia covered by Region C which suffers from Category 4 cyclones. For Region D which suffers from Category 5 cyclones, the same loading sequence with 20% increased cycles has been recommended. An experimental programme to validate the new simplified loading sequence has been proposed.

Collective evolution characteristics and computer simulation of short fatigue cracks

Fatigue testing was conducted using a kind of triangular isostress specimen to obtain the short-fatigue-crack behaviour of a weld low-carbon steel. The experimental results show that short cracks continuously initiate at slip bands within ferrite grain domains and the crack number per unit area gradually increases with increasing number of fatigue cycles. The dispersed short cracks possess an orientation preference, which is associated with the crystalline orientation of the relevant slip system. Based on the observed collective characteristics, computer modelling was carried out to simulate the evolution process of initiation, propagation and coalescence of short cracks. The simulation provides progressive displays which imitate the appearance of experimental observations. The results of simulation indicate that the crack path possesses a stable value of fractal dimension whereas the critical value of percolation covers a wide datum band, suggesting that the collective evolution process of short cracks is sensitive to the pattern of crack site distribution.

Experimental and theoretical study on numerical density evolution of short fatigue cracks

Fatigue testing was performed using a kind of triangular shaped specimen to obtain the characteristics of numerical density evolution for short cracks at the primary stage of fatigue damage. The material concerned is a structural alloy steel. The experimental results show that the numerical density of short cracks reaches the maximum value when crack length is slightly less than the average grain diameter, indicating grain boundary is the main barrier for short crack extension. Based on the experimental observations and related theory, the expressions for growth velocity and nucleation rate of short cracks have been proposed. With the solution to phase space conservation equation, the theoretical results of numerical density evolution for short cracks were obtained, which were in agreement with our experimental measurements.

Study on fatigue crack nucleation of electrodeposited nanocrystalline nickel

The mechanism of fatigue crack nucleation for nanocrystalline (nc) nickel was experimentally investigated in this paper. The samples of electrodeposited ne nickel were loaded cyclically by using a three point bending instrument at first. Then, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to scanning the sample surface after fatigue testing. The results indicated that, after fatigue testing, there are vortex-like cells with an average size of 108nm appeared along the crack on nc nickel sample. And, the roughness of sample surface increased with the maximum stress at the surface.

Effect of fretting on fatigue performance of Ti-1023 titanium alloy

The plain fatigue and fretting fatigue tests of Ti-1023 titanium alloy were performed using a high-frequency push-pull fatigue testing machine. Both σmax versus number of cycles to failure curves were obtained for comparative analysis of the fretting effect on fatigue performance of the titanium alloy. Meanwhile, by analyzing the fracture of plain fatigue and fretting fatigue, the fretting scar and the fretting debris observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the mechanism of fretting fatigue failure of Ti-1023 titanium alloy is discussed. The fretting fatigue strength of Ti-1023 titanium alloy is 175 MPa under 10 MPa contact pressure, which is 21% of plain fatigue strength (836 MPa). Under fretting condition, the Ti-1023 titanium alloy fatigue fracture failure occurs in a shorter fatigue life. When it comes to σmax versus number of cycles to failure curves, data points in the range of 106–107 cycles under plain fatigue condition moved to the range of 105–106 under fretting fatigue condition. The integrity of the fatigue specimen surface was seriously damaged under the effect of fretting. With the alternating stress loaded on specimen, the stress concentrated on the surface of fretting area, which brought earlier the initiation and propagation of crack.

Analysis of creep strain during tensile fatigue of cortical bone

During fatigue tests of cortical bone specimens, at the unload portion of the cycle (zero stress) non-zero strains occur and progressively accumulate as the test progresses. This non-zero strain is hypothesised to be mostly, if not entirely, describable as creep. This work examines the rate of accumulation of this strain and quantifies its stress dependency. A published relationship determined from creep tests of cortical bone (Journal of Biomechanics 21 (1988) 623) is combined with knowledge of the stress history during fatigue testing to derive an expression for the amount of creep strain in fatigue tests. Fatigue tests on 31 bone samples from four individuals showed strong correlations between creep strain rate and both stress and “normalised stress” (σ/E) during tensile fatigue testing (0–T). Combined results were good (r2=0.78) and differences between the various individuals, in particular, vanished when effects were examined against normalised stress values. Constants of the regression showed equivalence to constants derived in creep tests. The universality of the results, with respect to four different individuals of both sexes, shows great promise for use in computational models of fatigue in bone structures.

Effects of electroplated zinc-nickel alloy coatings on the fatigue strength of AISI 4340 high-strength steel

Recovered substrates have been extensively used in the aerospace field. Cadmium electroplating has been widely applied to promote protective coatings in aeronautical components, resulting in excellent corrosion protection combined with a good performance in cyclic loading. Ecological considerations allied to the increasing demands for corrosion resistance have resulted in the search for possible alternatives. Zinc-nickel (Zn-Ni) alloys have received considerable interest recently, because these coatings show advantages such as a good resistance to white and red rust, high plating rates, and acceptance in the market. In this study, the effect of electroplated Zn-Ni coatings on AISI 4340 high-strength steel was analyzed for rotating bending fatigue strength, corrosion, and adhesion resistance. The compressive residual stress field was measured by x-ray diffraction prior to fatigue tests. Optical microscopy documented coating thickness, adhesion characteristics, and coverage extent for nearly all substrates. Fractured fatigue specimens were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Three different Zn-Ni coating thicknesses were tested, and comparisons with the rotating bending fatigue data from electroplated Cd specimens were performed. Experimental results differentiated the effects of the various coatings on the AISI 4340 steel behaviour when submitted to fatigue testing and the influence of coating thickness on the fatigue strength.

Retention force and fatigue strength of overdenture attachment systems

This study evaluated retention force and fatigue resistance of two overdenture attachment systems. Twenty samples (O-ring and Bar-Clip) from two manufacturers (Conexao Sistemas de Protese and Lifecore Biomedical) were prepared and divided into four groups: (i) Conexao/O-ring; (ii) Conexao/Bar-Clip; (iii) Lifecore/O-ring and (iv) Lifecore/Bar-Clip, with five samples in each group. They were submitted to mechanical fatigue test using a servohydraulic machine performing 5500 cycles of insertion and removal (f=0.8 Hz), immersed in artificial saliva. Retention force values were obtained three times (0, 3000 and after 5500 cycles) simulating the clinical service, using a tensile strength at 1 mm min(-1) and load cell of 1 kN. Data were analysed with analysis of variance and Tukey's test at 5% level. Results showed that Conexao/Bar-Clip specimens had significantly higher retention values than Lifecore/Bar-Clip (44.61 and 18.44 N, respectively), Conexao/O-ring specimens had significantly lower values than Lifecore/O-ring (13.91 and 19.75 N, respectively). Conexao/Bar-Clip values were always significantly higher than those of Conexao/O-ring group (44.61 and 13.91 N, respectively). Lifecore (O-ring and Bar-Clip) presented similar values (19.75 and 18.44 N, respectively). The systems evaluated showed satisfactory retention force values, before and after fatigue testing. Conexao/Bar-Clip specimens presented the highest values. A 5-year simulation of insertion and removal did not decrease retention values or fracture components.

Effect of post length on the fatigue resistance of bovine teeth restored with bonded fiber posts: A pilot study

This study evaluated the influence of the cementation length of glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) on the fatigue resistance of bovine teeth restored with an adhesively cemented FRC. Thirty roots of single-rooted bovine teeth were allocated to 3 groups (n = 10), according to the ratio of crown length/root length (post cementation length): group 1 = 2/3, group 2 = 1/2, and group 3 = 1/1. The roots were prepared, the fiber posts (FRC Postec Plus) were cemented, and the specimens were submitted to 2 million mechanical cycles. After fatigue testing, a score was given based on the number of fatigue cycles until fracture, and data were submitted to statistical analysis. All specimens were resistant to fatigue. Taking into account the methodology and results of this study, the evaluated fiber posts can be cemented based on the ratio of crown/root at 1/1. Further clinical studies must be conducted to verify this ratio.