Fatigue Problems

Solution
Problem 1. (a) Given the values of m (70 M Pa) and a (210 M Pa) we are asked t o compute max and min.
From Equation 1
m =

max + min
= 70 MPa
2

Or,
max + min = 140 MPa
Furthermore, utilization of Equation 2 yields
a =

max min
= 210 MPa
2

Or,
max min = 420 MPa
Simultaneously solving these two expressions leads to
max = 280 MPa (40, 000 psi)
min = 140 MPa (20, 000 psi)

(b) Using Equation 3 the stress ratio R is determined as follows:

R=

min

max

140 MPa
= 0.50
280 MPa

(c) The magnitude of the stress range r is determined using Equation 4 as

r = max min = 280 MPa (140 MPa) = 420 MPa (60, 000 psi)

Problem 2. This problem asks that we determine the minimum allowable bar diameter to ensure that fatigue
failure will not occur for a 1045 steel that is subjected to cyclic loading for a load amplitude of 66,700 N (15,000
lbf). From Fig. 1, the fatigue limit stress amplitude for this alloy is 310 MPa (45,000 psi). Stress is defined in as
F
. For a cylindrical bar
=
A0
d 2
A0 = 0
2

Substitution for A0 into the Equation leads to

=

F
=
A0

d
0
2

4F

d02

We now solve for d0, taking stress as the fatigue limit divided by the factor of safety. Thus
d0 =

4F

(4)(66,700 N)
= 23.4 x 103 m = 23.4 mm (0.92 in.)
310 x 10 6 N / m2

()
2

Problem 3. We are asked to determine the fatigue life for a cylindrical 2014-T6 aluminum rod given its diameter
(6.4 mm) and the maximum tensile and compressive loads (+5340 N and 5340 N, respectively). The first thing
that is necessary is to calculate values of max and min using stress equation. Thus
F
max = max =
A0

5340 N

6.4 x 103 m 2

()
2

5340 N

6.4 x 103 m

()
2

d 2
0
2

= 166 x 10 6 N/m2 = 166 MPa (24, 400 psi)

min =

Fmax

Fmin

d 2
0
2

= 166 x 10 6 N/m2 = 166 MPa (24, 400 psi)

Now it becomes necessary to compute the stress amplitude using Equation as

a =

max min
2

166 MPa (166 MPa )

= 166 MPa (24, 400 psi)
2

From Fig. 1, for the 2014-T6 aluminum, the number of cycles to failure at this stress amplitude is about 1 x
107 cycles.

Problem 4. This problem asks that we compute the maximum and minimum loads to which a 15.2 mm (0.60 in.)
diameter 2014-T6 aluminum alloy specimen may be subjected in order to yield a fatigue life of 1.0 x 10 8 cycles;
Fig. 1 is to be used assuming that data were taken for a mean stress of 35 MPa (5,000 psi). Upon consultation
of Fig.1, a fatigue life of 1.0 x 10 8 cycles corresponds to a stress amplitude of 140 MPa (20,000 psi). Or,
from Equation
max min = 2 a = (2)(140 MPa) = 280 MPa (40,000 psi)

Since m = 35 MPa, then from Equation

max + min = 2 m = (2)(35 MPa) = 70 MPa (10,000 psi)

Simultaneous solution of these two expressions for max and min yields
max = +175 MPa (+25,000 psi)
min = 105 MPa (15,000 psi)
F
Now, inasmuch as =
(Equation ), and
A0

Fmax =

Fmin =

max d 20
4

min d 20
4

(175

(105

d 2
A0 = 0 then
2

x 10 6 N / m2 ) () (15.2 x 103 m)
4

x 10 6 N / m2 ) () (15.2 x 103 m)
4

= 31,750 N (7070 lbf )

= 19,000 N (4240 lbf )

Creep Problems
Solution
Problem 1. This problem asks that we determine the total elongation of a low carbon-nickel alloy that is exposed
to a tensile stress of 70 M Pa (10,000 psi ) at 427C for 10,000 h; t he instantaneous and pri mary creep el ongations
are 1.3 mm (0.05 in.).

s is about 4.7 x 10 -7 h-1 at 70 MPa. The

From the 427C line in Fig.1, the steady state creep rate 
steady state creep strain, s, therefore, is just the product of s and time as
s = s x (time)

= (4.7 x 10-7 h-1) (10,000 h) = 4.7 x10-3

Strain and elongation are related as in Equation; solving for the steady state elongation, ls, leads to
ls = l0 s = (1015 mm) (4.7 x 10-3) = 4.8 mm (0.19 in.)

Finally, t he total elongation is just the sum of this ls and the total of both instantaneous and primary creep
elongations [i.e., 1.3 mm (0.05 in.)]. Therefore, the total elongation is 4.8 mm + 1.3 mm = 6.1 mm (0.24 in.).

Problem 2. We are asked to determine the tensile load necessary to elongate a 635 m m long low carbon-nickel
alloy specimen 6.44 m m after 5,000 h at 538C. It is first necessary to calculate the steady state creep rate so that
we m ay utilize Fig. 1, in order to determine the tensile stress. The steady state elongation, ls, is just th e
difference between the total elongation and the sum of the instantaneous and primary creep elongations; that is,
ls = 6.44 mm 1.8 mm = 4.64 mm (0.18 in.)

Now the steady state creep rate, s is just

ls

4.64 mm

635 mm
=
=
s =
t
5,000 h
t
l0

= 1.46 x 10-6 h-1

Employing the 538C line in Fig.1, a steady state creep rat e of 1.46 x 10 -6 h-1 corresponds to a st ress of
about 40 M Pa (5,800 psi ) [si nce l og (1.46 x 10 -6) = -5.836]. From t his we m ay com pute t he t ensile l oad usi ng
Equation as
d 2
F = A0 = 0
2
19.0 x 103 m

= (40 x 10 6 N/m2 ) ()

= 11, 300 N (2560 lbf )

Problem 3. This problem asks us to calculate the rupture lifetime of a com ponent fabricated from a low carbonnickel al loy exposed to a tensile stress of 31 MPa at 649 C. All that we need do is read from the 649 C lin e in
Fig. 2 the rupture lifetime at 31 MPa; this value is about 10,000 h.

8-32

Problem. 4 We are asked in this problem to determine the maximum load that may be applied to a cylindrical low
carbon-nickel alloy component that must survive 10,000 h at 538C. From Fig. 2, the stress corresponding to
104 h is about 70 M Pa (10,000 psi ). Since st ress i s defi ned i n Equat ion as = F/A0, and for a cylindrical
d 2
specimen, A0 = 0 , then
2

d 2
F = A0 = 0
2

19.1 x 103 m 2
6
2
= 20,000 N (4420 lbf )
= (70 x 10 N/m ) ()
2

Data Extapolation Problems Solution

Problem. 2 We are asked in this problem to calculate the temperature at which the rupture lifetime is 200 h when
an S-590 iron component is subjected to a stress of 55 M Pa (8000 psi). From the curve shown in Fig. 1, at 55
MPa, the value of the Larson-Miller parameter is 26.7 x 103 (K-h). Thus,
26.7 x 10 3 (K - h) = T (20 + log tr )

Or, solving for T yields T = 1197 K (924C).

= T [20 + log (200 h)]

Problem. 3 This problem asks that we determine, for an 18-8 Mo stainless steel, the time to rupture for a
component that is subjected to a stress of 100 M Pa (14,500 psi) at 600 C (873 K). From Fig. 2, the value of
the Larson-Miller parameter at 100 MPa is about 22.4 x 103, for T in K and tr in h. Therefore,
22.4 x 10 3 = T (20 + log tr )

= 873 (20 + log tr )

And, solving for tr

25.66 = 20 + log tr

which leads to tr = 4.6 x 105 h = 52 yr.

10
.

Problem 4. We are asked in this problem to calculate the stress levels at which the rupture lifetime will be 1 year
and 15 y ears when an 18-8 M o stainless steel component is subjected to a tem perature of 650 C (923 K). It first
becomes necessary to calculate the value of the Larson-Miller parameter for each time. The values of tr
corresponding to 1 and 15 years are 8.76 x 103 h and 1.31 x 105 h, respectively. Hence, for a lifetime of 1 year

T (20 + log tr ) = 923 20 + log (8.76 x 10 3) = 22.10 x 10 3

And for tr = 15 years

T (20 + log tr ) = 923 20 + log (1.31 x 105) = 23.18 x 10 3

Using the curve shown in Fig. 2, the stress values corresponding to the one- and fifteen-year lifetimes
are approximately 110 MPa (16,000 psi) and 80 MPa (11,600 psi), respectively.

11
.

Problem 1. This problem asks that we com pute the maximum allowable stress level to give a rupture lifetim e of
20 days for an S-590 iron com ponent at 923 K. It is fi rst necessary to com pute th e value of the Larson-Miller
parameter as follows:
T (20 + log tr ) = (923 K){20 + log [(20 days)(24 h/day)]}

= 20.9 x 103
From the curve in Fig . 1, this value of the Larson-Miller parameter corresponds to a stress level of about 280
MPa (40,000 psi).

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