Fatigue behavior and recommended design rules for an automotive composite
Fatigue curves (stress vs cycles to failure) were generated under a variety of conditions (temperatures, fluid environments, mean stresses, block loadings) for a candidate automotive structural composite. The results were used to (1) develop observations regarding basic fatigue behavioral characteristics and (2) establish fatigue design rules. The composite was a structural reaction injection-molded polyurethane reinforced with continuous strand, swirl-mat E-glass fibers. Tensile fatigue tests on specimens from a single plaque at {minus}40 F, room temperature, and 250 F provided the basic behavioral characteristics. It was found that when stress was normalized by the at-temperature ultimate tensile strength, the fatigue curves at the three temperatures collapsed into a single master curve. An assessment of the individual stress-strain loops throughout each test showed a progressive loss in stiffness and an increase in permanent strain, both of which are indicative of increasing damage. Fatigue tests on specimens from several plaques were used to develop a design fatigue curve, which was established by using a reduction factor of 20 on average cycles to failure. This factor assures that the stiffness loss during the design life is no greater than 10 percent. Fatigue reduction factors were established to account for various fluids. Reversed stress fatigue tests allowed a mean stress rule to be validated, and block loading tests were used to demonstrate the adequacy of Miner`s rule for cumulative fatigue damage.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-96OR22464
- OSTI ID:
- 290930
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/CP-99197; CONF-980943-; ON: DE99000226; TRN: AHC29901%%135
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 13. annual ESD advanced composite technology conference and exposition, Detroit, MI (United States), 28-29 Sep 1998; Other Information: PBD: [1998]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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