FEA-Based Fatigue Life Prediction of a Notched CGI Component 2011-01-2306

A cyclically pressurized hydraulic component made of compacted graphite iron (CGI) is examined in fatigue design. This CGI component has a notch, formed at the intersection of two drilling channels. This notch causes the stress to be locally elevated and may potentially serve as a fatigue initiation site. Traditional fatigue design approaches calculate the maximum stress/strain range acting at the notch and apply the Neuber correction when calculating fatigue life. It is, however, found that the fatigue life is dramatically underestimated by this method. This prompts the use of the critical distance method because the stresses are concentrated in a relatively small volume. When using the critical distance method, the fatigue life is correctly predicted. Finally, a fracture mechanics model of the crack check the reasonableness of the critical distance method results. The fracture mechanics model predicts that even if a crack were present, it would not propagate, which is consistent with the critical distance fatigue calculation.