Mean Stress Correction for Fatigue Life of Carbon Steel: Proposal of Non-Closure Model

Influence of the mean stress on fatigue life was investigated for carbon steel. Uni-axial fatigue tests were conducted by stress and strain-controlled conditions at room temperature. The fatigue life was reduced by applying the mean stress for the same stress amplitude. The fatigue life exhibited better correlation with the strain range rather than the stress amplitude. Increase in strain range caused by applying the mean stress correlated well with the decrease in the fatigue life. It was assumed that the mean stress effect on the fatigue life was brought about by the change in crack growth rate caused by applying the mean stress. The mean stress enhanced crack mouth opening and accelerated the crack growth. The non-closure model, in which the crack mouth is assumed not to be closed even at the minimum peak stress, was proposed.