EML 4521 Engineering Design

Fall 2019 – Fatigue Crack Growth Homework Problem

Given a titanium alloy that has a yield strength of 120 ksi and a fracture toughness of 100
ksi-in1/2. An initial through-the-thickness crack has been found in the center of the panel
that is 0.4 in long with a plate width of 6 in. The structure experiences a fatigue loading
of σmax = 60 ksi and σmin = 10 ksi.

Ti-6Al-4V: yield = 120 ksi K Ic  100ksi in 1 / 2  lab air 

da
 2.3 X 10 10  K  2.4  lab air 
dN

K  a  Y

 min
K   a  Y R
 max

where :

1  0.5 a / b   0.370( a / b) 2  0.044( a / b) 3

Y 
1  a / b  1 / 2

(a.) What will be the critical crack size in the structure for the maximum design stress of
60 ksi? (You only need to be within a few ksi-in1/2.)
 K Ic  100ksi in

assume a  1.0"

1  0.5(1 / 3)  0.370 1 / 3
Y 
1  1 / 3 1

K   60ksi   1.0" 1.069  113.7ksi in

a ssu me a  0.8"

1  0 . 5( 0 .8 / 3)  0
Y 


1

K  ( 6 0 k si ) ( 0 .8" ) 

c lo se e no u gh

So a = 0.8 in ( 2a = 1.60”) = critical crack length

(b.) How many cycles of loading can the structure withstand under the applied cyclic


stresses to grow the crack to failure? (Use an average value of Y)
  5 0k


f or a  0

so : Yav e

N 
C  

N 
2 . 30

N    43