Cold expansion effect on the fatigue crack growth of Al 6082: numerical investigation

Cold expansion is an efficient way to improve the fatigue life of an open hole. In this paper, three finite element models have been established to bind the crack growth from an expanded hole and simulated. Expansion and its degree influence are studied using a numerical analysis. Stress intensity factors are determined and used to evaluate the fatigue life. Residual stress field is evaluated using a nonlinear analysis and superposed with the applied stresses field in order to estimate fatigue crack growth. Experimental tests are conducted under constant loading. Results of this investigation indicate expansion and its degree are beneficial to fatigue life and a good agreement was observed between FEM simulations and experimental results.