Fatigue damage discrepancies, the intrinsic fatigue damage map locus and the multiple stages of the similitude concept

ABSTRACT The work demonstrates how the theory of the fatigue damage map (FDM) can be used in order to define a closed form locus where fatigue crack growth can be sought. The Intrinsic FDM Locus depending only on readily material properties represents a tool able to accurately predict crack growth of polycrystals. If the Locus is expressed in terms of a surface plot after triangulation of the data, it concludes into visualization of the potential for multiple similitude stages. The stages are defined as a function of the maximum far field stress and ΔK. Multiple similitude stages are found to dominate the short and near threshold area (Stage I growth) and represent direct result of the effect of polycrystalline behaviour to flow resistance. The work concludes that interrogation of the points defining the Intrinsic FDM Locus and related to the three thresholds can provide potential characteristics in the quest for an ideal damage tolerance material.