The Characteristics of the Fatigue Life of the SAE 1541 Carbon Steel Based on the Strain-Life Approach

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize the fatigue life of the SAE 1541 carbon steel. The fatigue life was predicted based on the strain-life approach through the application of constant and variable strain data with negative, zero, and positive mean values. Each strain data was developed at amplitude range of 200 με, 400 με, 600 με, 800 με, 1,000 με, 1,200 με, 1,400 με, 1,600 με, 1,800 με, and 2,000 με. The results showed there was no significant difference in the fatigue life for negative, zero, and positive mean strain amplitudes using the Coffin-Manson model. This is due to the non-consideration of the mean strain effect by the Coffin-Manson model. However, according to the Morrow and SWT models, negative mean strain data gave a longer fatigue life while positive mean strain data gave a shorter life. In addition, variable strain data gave a longer fatigue life since they contain low and high amplitudes, with the low amplitudes contributing to minimum fatigue damage.