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Sharpe, W. N., Jr.

Publications and source records attributed to Sharpe, W. N., Jr..

An evaluation of the Neuber and Glinka relations for monotonic loading

The abilities of six models of notch root behavior are evaluated by comparing them with experimental results over a range of constraints. The models studied are the Neuber model, the Walker modified Neuber model, the Glinka models for plane strain and for plane stress, and two modifications of the Glinka models. Comparisons are made with strains measured at the roots of notches by resistance gages or by laser-based interferometry.

Sharpe, W. N., Jr.↗

Closure measurements of naturally initiating small cracks

The initiation and growth of cracks in smooth 2024-T3 aluminum specimens have been investigated using acetate replicas. Crack opening displacements were measured as a function of load at several positions along the crack as it grew across the thickness of the specimen and became a through-the-thickness crack of a few millimeters in length. Tests run for R-ratios of 0.5, 0.0 and -1.0 showed that closure loads were well predicted by Newman's (1984) model. It is noted that small cracks grow slightly faster than would be predicted by long-crack data, and it is suggested that effects other than plasticity-induced closure must be taken into account.

Sharpe, W. N., Jr.↗

An experimental study of the closure behavior of short and long cracks

Experiments were conducted on 2024-T3 aluminum specimens. The laser-based interferometric strain/displacement optical system was used to measure crack opening displacement. The displacement data were measured near the crack tip, at the crack mouth, and at other locations along the crack line for both short and long cracks. The dependence of opening load ratio on measurement locations was observed. The ratio decreased systematically as the measurement locations moved away from the crack tip. However, the ratio stayed roughly the same for the near tip surface measurements at various crack lengths.

Su, X.↗

COD measurements at various positions along a crack

Load versus crack-opening-displacement (COD) was measured at various positions along the border of a fatigue crack as it grew from a small surface crack on the edge of an aluminum specimen into a through-the-thickness crack. Displacements were measured with a laser-based interferometric system with a gage length of 70 microns and a resolution of 0.01 micron. These load-COD curves can be used to determine opening loads and thereby investigate the effect of closure on the growth of small cracks. In general, the opening loads decrease as the crack grows.

Sharpe, W. N., Jr.↗

An experimental study of closure behavior of naturally initiated small cracks

Small cracks were initiated on the edges of 2024-T3 aluminum specimens by fatigue loading with various R-ratios. The crack opening displacement was then measured with a laser based interferometric technique and used to determine the operating load ratio. This ratio decreased with increasing distance from the tip. However, it remained essentially constant as the crack grew if a constant measuring system was used.

Su, X.↗

Short fatigue crack behavior in notched 2024-T3 aluminum specimens

Single-edge, semi-circular notched specimens of Al 2024-T3, 2.3 mm thick, were cyclicly loaded at R-ratios of 0.5, 0.0, -1.0, and -2.0. The notch roots were periodically inspected using a replica technique which duplicates the bore surface. The replicas were examined under an optical microscope to determine the initiation of very short cracks and to monitor the growth of short cracks ranging in length from a few tens of microns to the specimen thickness. In addition to short crack growth measurements, the crack opening displacement (COD) was measured for surface cracks as short as 0.035 mm and for through-thickness cracks using the Interferometric Strain/Displacement Gage (ISDG), a laser-based optical technique. The growth rates of short cracks were faster than the long crack growth rates for R-ratios of -1.0 and -2.0. No significant difference between short and long crack growth rates was observed for R = 0.0. Short cracks had slower growth rates than long cracks for R = 0.5. The crack opening stresses measured for short cracks were smaller than those predicted for large cracks, with little difference appearing for positive R-ratios and large differences noted for negative R-ratios.

Lee, J. J.↗

Short fatigue cracks in notched aluminum specimens

The short-crack fatigue behavior in notched specimens of Al 2024-T3 was studied at values of the stress ratio, R, equal to 0.5, 0.0, -1.0, and -2.0. Crack growth was monitored using a replica technique for cracks ranging in length from a few tens of a micron to the specimen's thickness (2.3 mm). Crack opening displacement was measured for surface cracks as short as 0.035 mm using the interferometric strain/displacement gage, a laser-based optical technique described by Sharpe (1982). It was found that the growth rates of short cracks were faster than the rates of long cracks for R values of -1.0 and -2.0. No significant difference was observed for R = 0.0, and at R = 0.5, the short cracks actually grew more slowly that the long ones. At all R values, the closure stresses measured for short cracks were smaller than those predicted for large cracks.

Lee, J. J.↗

Closure measurements on short fatigue cracks

Single-edged notched specimens, 2.3 mm thick, of 2024-T3 aluminum were cyclicly loaded at R-ratios of 0.5, 0.0, -1.0 and -2.0. The notch roots were periodically inspected with an optical microscope to locate the initiation of very short cracks. Acetate replicas were also taken. The loads were selected to produce fatigue lives of 500,000 cycles or less. Crack opening displacements were measured at single positions across cracks as short as 0.035 mm and as long as the full thickness of the specimen. The opening load ratios for the short cracks are somewhat smaller than for long cracks at positive R-ratios, but are considerably smaller for negative R-ratios.

Lee, J. J.↗

Benchmark cyclic plastic notch strain measurements

Plastic strains at the roots of notched specimens of Inconel 718 subjected to tension-compression cycling at 650 C are reported. These strains were measured with a laser-based technique over a gage length of 0.1 mm and are intended to serve as 'benchmark' data for further development of experimental, analytical, and computational approaches. The specimens were 250 mm by 2.5 mm in the test section with double notches of 4.9 mm radius subjected to axial loading sufficient to cause yielding at the notch root on the tensile portion of the first cycle. The tests were run for 1000 cycles at 10 cpm or until cracks initiated at the notch root. The experimental techniques are described, and then representative data for the various load spectra are presented. All the data for each cycle of every test are available on floppy disks from NASA.

Sharpe, W. N., Jr.↗

Measurements of mixed-mode crack surface displacements and comparison with theory

The problem of a finite-width tension specimen containing a crack oriented at various angles to the load axis is attacked from experimental and theoretical viewpoints. Displacements of an electro-machined slot, 12.5 mm long and oriented at angles of 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 deg, are measured using a laser-based in-plane measuring technique. Various width specimens, ranging from a crack-length/width ratio of 0.167 to 0.794, are tested. A boundary-integral equation method is extended to deal with the presence of a sharp crack. Agreement between the two approaches is generally good except near the tips of the cracks.

Sharpe, W. N., Jr.↗

Measurements of mixed-mode crack surface displacements and comparison with theory

A theoretical and an experimental technique is used to determine crack surface displacements under mixed-mode conditions. Crack surface displacements proved to be quite useful in mode 1 fracture analysis in that they are directly related to strain energy release rate and stress intensity factor. It is felt that similar relationships can be developed for the mixed-mode case. A boundary-integral method was developed for application to two-dimensional fracture mechanics problems. This technique was applied to the mixed-mode problem. A laser interferometry technique, for measurement of crack surface displacements under mixed-mode conditions, is presented. The experimental measurements are reported and the results of the two approaches are compared and discussed.

Altiero, N. J., Jr.↗

Biaxial laser-based displacement transducer

A simple laser-based instrument is described which produces output voltages proportional to displacements in orthogonal directions. This instrument and the associated experimental techniques have been used to measure biaxial displacements across 400-micron slots at various angles in sheet specimens of various widths.

Sharpe, W. N., Jr.↗