Using the Hot-Spot Determination Concept to Predict Fatigue Failure of Notched Components in the Presence of Residual Stress Fields

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran.

10.22084/jrstan.2025.30956.1267

Abstract

The aim of this study is to introduce a new method for predicting fatigue failure in notched specimens under residual stress fields. The proposed model is based on a hot-spot determination and the local stress ratio around the notch root to estimate fatigue life. This concept aims to assess the influence of the plastic zone on the fatigue process within a limited volume near the notch root, which governs fatigue failure. To verify the accuracy and validity of the method, experiments were conducted on various notched specimens. Both U- and V- notched specimens with a wide range of elastic stress concentration factors were systematically investigated. A finite element model with a refined mesh around the notch root was employed to determine the stress distribution. The results showed acceptable agreement between
the predictions and experimental data, confirming the model’s effectiveness. Additionally, the model demonstrated suitable stability in predicting the fatigue lives for notches with high stress concentrations. This approach significantly simplifies and improves the accuracy of fatigue predictions for notched components, particularly when residual stress fields are considered. Another key advantage of the proposed model is its ability to correlate fatigue predictions with experimental results from simple specimens, data for which are typically readily available in engineering databases.

Keywords


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