An experimental K-analysis on the fatigue crack near the interface where plate thickness varies discontinuously —Thin to thick type

The characteristics of fatigue crack propagation behavior near the thickness interface were examined for 6061 T6 aluminium specimens. A series of thin to thick type various thickness specimens was prepared. Fatigue tests were performed under load control in tension-tension. Correction factor of the stress intensity factors (SIF) for various thickness specimens was introduced as the form of F(α, β) where α was a dimensionless crack length and β was the thickness ratio. These correction factors were determined experimentally by means of linear elastic fracture mechanics concepts.