Fatigue life investigation using non‐destructive testing methods

Abstract

Experimental investigations of the fatigue life prediction of two different specimen forms made from steel 42CrMo4 are described. The fatigue load is defined as a cyclic loading with constant and non constant amplitudes in tension range and with different stress ratios. This loading range leads to a high cyclic fatigue behaviour of both specimens. During the test, the growth of the fatigue crack is monitored using two different non‐destructive methods, namely acoustic emission and the electric resistance. The acoustic emission is used for detecting sound waves as a result of dissipation of elastic energy during microcracks and cracks growth, as well as for the detection of the place of crack initiation. The electric resistance is used for the monitoring and quantitative investigation of the crack growth. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)