Author(s)

D. Taylor

Abstract

Engineering components and structures invariably fail from stress concentrations: geometrical features which give rise to high local stresses, known as "hot spots". This paper is concerned with a new method for predicting the behaviour of these hot spots, using data from finite element (FE) analysis and other numerical techniques. The method is of interest in optimisation because it provides a measure of the severity of a hot spot with respect to fatigue failure. The problem is non-trivial because the stress at the hot spot and its fatigue behaviour are not simply correlated. Reasons for this include: (a) plasticity which alters the stress and strain at the hot spot; (b) stressed volume: small notches are not as dangerous as large ones; (c) stress gradients: high stress

Keywords