CAREER: New Methods for Predicting Fatigue Failures in Extrinsically Toughened Materials

Oregon State University, Corvallis OR

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract CAREER: New methods for predicting fatigue failures in extrinsically toughened materials J. J. Kruzic An approach will be developed for making fatigue reliability predictions in structural materials that utilize extrinsic toughening mechanisms to achieve their crack propagation resistance. This will be achieved by characterizing the fatigue behavior as a function of crack size using a fatigue threshold R-curve, analogous to a fracture toughness R-curve, which may then be used for predicting fatigue endurance strengths based on the initial minimum detectable flaw size. Additionally, methods will be developed for predicting such R-curves by quantitative evaluation of the extrinsic toughening processes. Finally, this project will be structured to create a synergistic pyramid of mentoring for the students involved from the high school to graduate level which will act as an important recruiting tool for attracting high school students to science and engineering, while also acting as an important retention tool for keeping the undergraduate and graduate students engaged in those fields.