Investigation of fatigue crack closure using multiscale image correlation experiments

Two full-field macroscale methods are introduced for estimating fatigue crack opening levels based on digital image correlation (DIC) displacement measurements near the crack tip. Crack opening levels from these two full-field methods are compared to results from a third (microscale) method that directly measures opening of the crack flanks immediately behind the crack tip using two-point DIC displacement gages. Of the two full-field methods, the first one measures effective stress intensity factors through the displacement field (over a wide region behind and ahead of the crack tip). This method reveals crack opening levels comparable to the limiting values (crack opening levels far from the crack tip) from the third method (microscale). The second full-field method involves a compliance offset measurement based on displacements obtained near the crack tip. This method delivers results comparable to crack tip opening levels from the microscale two-point method. The results of these experiments point to a normalized crack tip opening level of 0.35 for R similar to 0 loading in grade 2 titanium. This opening level was found at low and intermediate Delta K levels. It is shown that the second full-field macroscale method indicates crack opening levels comparable to surface crack tip opening levels (corresponding to unzipping of the entire crack). This indicates that effective stress intensity factors determined from full-field displacements could be used to predict crack opening levels. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.