Prediction of Shape Change for Fatigue Crack in a Round Bar Using Three-Parameter Growth Circles

The conventional method for predicting the shape change of a surface crack in a round bar simply utilizes the Paris-Erdogan law with the least squares method using a certain shape assumption with excessive constraints. In this paper, a three-parameter model for a round bar subjected to tension is developed with fewer shape assumption restraints by employing a fatigue crack growth circles method. The equivalent stress intensity factor Δ K e based on both stress intensity factors along the current and new crack front is used to reduce the total number of increments. The results show that the proposed method has a good convergence speed and accurate prediction of crack shapes. The present method is validated by comparing the solution with other simulation solutions and experimental data.