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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/C509870/1
Title: Microplasticity and Fatigue Crack Initiation
Principal Investigator: Dunne, Professor FP
Other Investigators:
Wilkinson, Professor AJ Hills, Professor D Roberts, Professor SG
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Rolls-Royce Plc
Department: Engineering Science
Organisation: University of Oxford
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 November 2005 Ends: 30 April 2010 Value (£): 383,520
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Eng. Dynamics & Tribology
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
03 Nov 2004 Engineering Science (Components) Deferred
Summary on Grant Application Form
Novel polycrystal plasticity finite element modelling techniques are to be researched to provide fundamental understanding of fatigue crack initiation, to provide techniques for the determination of fatigue life, and in particular, to eliminate the need for designers to use empirical methods for lifing of components which fail by initiation-controlled fatigue. The proposed technique is quite different to conventional continuum plasticity, and relies on knowledge of critical resolved shear stress, critical accumulated slip and microstructural features. The techniques will be developed for three materials; namely, aero-engine nickel alloy C263 (fcc), a directionally solidified '2D' nickel alloy, and a near-single phase titanium (hcp) alloy. Anisotropic elastic, polycrystal plasticity constitutive equations will be developed and implemented into finite element software. Both two- (that is, directionally solidified to produce prismatic grains) and three-dimensional microstructures will be investigated experimentally using SEM and EBSD. Microstructural features important in establishing persistent slip bands and fatigue crack initiation will be investigated. Crystal plasticity models will be used to investigate the effects of texture and grain morphology on the establishment of PSBs and fatigue crack initiation. Detailed comparisons between experimental findings and model predictions will provide considerable insight into PSB formation and fatigue crack initiation in both 2D and 3D microstructures. A new modelling strategy for fatigue will be developed which will combine polycrystal and conventional continuum plasticity to enable the fatigue life analysis of engineering components. LCF and HCF tests will be carried out on a representative multiaxial component and the results compared with model predictions. The research will provide a new methodology for the lifing of engineering components undergoing fatigue crack initiation.
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Organisation Website: http://www.ox.ac.uk