Stress level

Fatigue tests were performed under load control mode on a Schenck horizontal fatigue testing machine with hydraulic grips and a maximum load capacity of 25 kN. Tension-tension constant amplitude fatigue tests were carried out at three stress levels 60% a , 70% Cu and 80% a at two different stress ratios R = 0.1 and R = 0.5. The test frequency was kept constant (f = 3 Hz) for all the tests. 

Otnax = maximum stress level of the fatigue cycle... 

The higher the fatigue stress level the higher the rate of damage development (and the rate of cumulative AE counts)... 

In particular, the known stress calibration method was chosen, therefore 6 rosetta strain gauges (R1-R6) on the shell and 7 (R7-R13) on the the head were applied. Their distances measured from the head centre are listed in table 1. R3 and R4 were applied only to check a uniform stress level on the shell surface. 

Of course, under the same operating conditions, the higher the thickness the lower the stress level. Further tests were carried out to map the surface thickness distribution using an ultrasonic precision thickness gauge. It was so verified a deviation of the thickness up to 10% of the nominal value. 

Figures 8a-16a show the stress levels of scan areas on the basis of a linearly subdivided colour map. Figures 8b-16b show the stress level along a line horizontally crossing the area scan graphic.

It is interesting to observe that thermographic results of scan area 1 denote a slow increase of the stress level going from the center of the shell to the head. 

The line curves relative to the scan area 2 show a sudden decrease of the stress level down to negative values. 

After the minimum value, the stress level begins to rise, changing sign when the above mentioned ratio becomes large enough. Finally, the thermographic results of the scan area 3 show a further increase of the stress level up to a maximum and a subsequent shallow saddle earring on towards the center of the head. 

An experimental activity on the stress measurement of a pressure vessel using the SPATE technique was carried out. It was demontrated that this approach allows to define the distribution of stress level on the vessel surface with a quite good accuracy. The most significant advantage in using this technique rather than others is to provide a true fine map of stresses in a short time even if a preliminary meticolous calibration of the equipment has to be performed. 

Creep. The creep characteristic of plastic foams must be considered when they are used in stmctural appHcations. Creep is the change in dimensions of a material when it is maintained under a constant stress. Data on the deformation of polystyrene foam under various static loads have been compiled (158). There are two types of creep in this material short-term and long-term. Short-term creep exists in foams at all stress levels however, a threshold stress level exists below which there is no detectable long-term creep. The minimum load required to cause long-term creep in molded polystyrene foam varies with density ranging from 50 kPa (7.3 psi) for foam density 16 kg/m (1 lb /ft ) to 455 kPa (66 psi) at foam density 160 kg/m (10... 

Machine components ate commonly subjected to loads, and hence stresses, which vary over time. The response of materials to such loading is usually examined by a fatigue test. The cylinder, loaded elastically to a level below that for plastic deformation, is rotated. Thus the axial stress at all locations on the surface alternates between a maximum tensile value and a maximum compressive value. The cylinder is rotated until fracture occurs, or until a large number of cycles is attained, eg, lO. The test is then repeated at a different maximum stress level. The results ate presented as a plot of maximum stress, C, versus number of cycles to fracture. For many steels, there is a maximum stress level below which fracture does not occur called the... 

This concept is explained by Figure 12 which shows the uniaxial stress— strain curve for a ductile material such as carbon steel. If the stress level is at the yield stress B or above, the problem is no longer a linear one. 

Rotating Beam Fatigue Test for Steel Cords. The purpose of this test method is to evaluate steel cord for pure bending fatigue (121). The test sample consists of a 3-mm diameter mbber embedded with steel cord. Different bending stress levels are appHed and the time to failure is recorded. The test stops at 1.44 million cycles. The fatigue limit is calculated from S—N (stress—number of cycles) curve. 

Elastic Behavior. Elastic deformation is defined as the reversible deformation that occurs when a load is appHed. Most ceramics deform in a linear elastic fashion, ie, the amount of reversible deformation is a linear function of the appHed stress up to a certain stress level. If the appHed stress is increased any further the ceramic fractures catastrophically. This is in contrast to most metals which initially deform elastically and then begin to deform plastically. Plastic deformation allows stresses to be dissipated rather than building to the point where bonds break irreversibly. 

---