A Novel Method for Determining the Fatigue Threshold and Fracture Toughness from a Single Test

Abstract

The fatigue threshold (∆K th) and fracture toughness (K IC) are key parameters used in the design of structural components to minimize the degree of crack propagation. There are well-established ASTM standards for evaluating these two parameters. However, these tests can be lengthy and often require multiple test specimens with different geometries. Therefore, it would be advantageous if a simpler and less time-consuming test procedure could be developed to characterize both ∆K th and K IC.