Appendices

The four-point method to estimate fatigue life behavior from tensile properties allows the construction of fatigue life curves from more readily available handbook data. This article provides information on the strain-based four-point method and the stress-based four-point method. The effects of mean stress or strain on transition fatigue life are reviewed. The article describes the determination of four fatigue-life parameters either by curve fitting actual fatigue life test data or approximating the constants from tensile properties. It contains a table that lists the tensile properties of various alloys.

The stress-intensity concept is based on the parameter that quantifies the stresses at a crack tip. This article summarizes some stress-intensity factors for various crack geometries commonly found in structural components. Through-the-thickness cracks may be located in the middle of a plate; at the edge of a plate; or at the edge of a hole inside a plate. The article discusses uniform farfield loading in terms of point loading of a center crack and point loading of an edge crack. It tabulates the correction factors for stress intensity at shallow surface cracks under tension. Farfield tensile loading and part-through crack in a finite plate are also discussed. The article concludes with a discussion on through-the-thickness crack and part-through crack in a pressurized cylinder.