Prediction of Crack Initiation Life of EA4T Axle Steel based on Crystal Plastic Finite Element Simulation

doi:10.3901/JME.2025.06.277

Abstract

Abstract: According to the change of Gibbs free energy as the fatigue crack initiation criterion, the fatigue crack initiation life prediction model of defective axle steel is established. The deformation mechanism of crack initiation of EA4T axle steel was explored by fatigue test, and the finite element crystal model of external defect axle was constructed based on the theoretical framework of crystal plasticity. The energy efficiency factor f of the crystal model was obtained by fatigue test and finite element simulation. From the microscopic point of view, the stress field and structural deformation near the axle defects are analyzed to explore the influence of external defects on the crack initiation life of the axle. The plastic strain energy density and life prediction of two kinds of defective axle models, ring scratch and diamond, are carried out. The results show that the high stress concentration range of annular scratch defect is wider, the damage range of material structure is larger, and fatigue failureis more likely to occur. The crack initiation life of annular scratch defects is lower than that of diamond defects, and the defect area is larger, which has a more severe effect on the crack initiation life.

Key words: crystal plasticity, external defects, gibbs free energy, crack initiation life

CLC Number:

U270

ZHOU Suxia, QU Zhi, ZHANG Zhao, WU Yi. Prediction of Crack Initiation Life of EA4T Axle Steel based on Crystal Plastic Finite Element Simulation[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2025, 61(6): 277-284.

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