International Journal of Engineering and Technology

This research work proposes a novel technique based on fracture mechanics approach for the quick determination of fatigue crack growth rate and threshold stress intensity factor range (?Kth) of metallic materials using circumferentially cracked round bar (CCRB) specimen geometry. The literature survey indicates that the fatigue crack growth rate data generated using ASTM E-647 standard test specimens were strongly dependent on specimen size and its configuration. Also the standard test procedure is more cumbersome and time consuming requires costly instrumentation. Aluminum 2014T6 alloy is used as the test specimen because of its wide application in automobiles and aero plane industry. It is found that the test procedure is simple, reliable, less time consuming and uses simple instrumentation. The obtained fatigue crack growth rate is found to be very close to the values obtained by using standard specimens. This methodology can be widely applied in industries for rapid determination of ?Kth any metallic materials.