SEDL / STP / STP648-EB / STP33395S

Fatigue Crack Propagation in A537M Steel

Sandifer, JP
Senior scientist and senior research scientist, Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics Laboratory, Lockheed-California Company, Burbank, Calif

Bowie, GE
Senior scientist and senior research scientist, Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics Laboratory, Lockheed-California Company, Burbank, Calif

Pages: 12    Published: Jan 1978

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Abstract

Fatigue crack propagation rates are presented for weldments in A537M steel at room temperature. Rates are determined for cracks propagating along the fusion line, in the melt zone of welds made with two shielding gas ratios, and in the base metal. Static tension and Charpy impact tests conducted on specimens from the base material and melt zone also are presented. Results indicate that crack growth resistance of A537M steel is not degraded by proper welding procedures, and the weld zone may impede growth rates. Shielding gas ratios, which affect tensile properties, are shown not to affect fatigue crack growth rates significantly. An interim da/dN versus ΔK design curve is computed for the data sets, and its application to flawed plate life prediction is discussed.