FATIGUE STRENGTH ASSESSMENT OF A SHORT FIBRE-REINFORCED PLASTIC BASED ON THE ENERGY DISSIPATION

摘要

An energy-based approach is proposed for fatigue analysis of specimens weakened by rounded notches. The energy dissipated as heat by a unit volume of material per cycle is assumed as fatigue damage indicator. A theoretical model based on the energy balance is presented, where the different forms of energy exchanged in a fatigue test are involved. An experimental technique which enables one to estimate the proposed energy parameter is presented and applied to the analysis of the fatigue behaviour of a short fibre-reinforced plastic. The limits of applicability of the presented approach is also discussed.