Author(s)

M. Scibetta & O. Pensis

Abstract

Life of mechanic components is generally linked to crack initiation and propagation under fatigue. Linear models are used to determine stress intensity factors used in Paris laws or similar ones. But it is well known that a plastic zone due to the singularity of the elastic solution exist at the crack tip. Residual stresses generated around the crack tip are important parameters to explain the modification of crack growth rate. This phenomena can be directly observed in case of overloading or crack closure. The Boundary Element Method extended to non-linear 2-dimension problems is used according to the fact that plasticity is localised in a very restricted zone. A first approach tends to link residual stresses in the plastic zone to stress intensity factor. A second approach is based on the plasti

Keywords