ELEVATED TEMPERATURE FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH IN ALLOY 718—PART I: EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL VARIABLES

Abstract

Abstract— In this paper observations concerning the effects of mechanical variables on the crack growth process in alloy 718 are reviewed and analyzed on the basis of the related deformation characteristics in the crack tip region. The variables included temperature, frequency, wave shape, hold time, load ratio and load interaction. These analyses have suggested that the role of each parameter in the acceleration of crack tip damage is governed mainly by their relative influence on the nature of the corresponding plastic deformation and associated slip line density. On the basis of this view (which assumes crack growth damage covers the range from cyclic‐ to fully time‐dependent processes), the interactive effects of loading parameters are discussed when considering the corresponding fracture mode. Conflicting experimental observations under different operating conditions are examined.