Numerical simulation of fatigue creep crack growth in a visco-elasto-plastic material-II. experimental validation and application

In the first part of this paper Perl et al., Engng Fract. Mech. 23, 321-331 (1986), a numerical model for simulating fatigue creep crack growth in a visco-elasto-plastic material was proposed. In the present paper this numerical model is validated and corroborated by comparing its prediction of a-N curves and of the total number of cycles to failure, to a series of experimental results acquired under various test conditions. Furthermore, simulations are performed to study the influence of the load level, the loading period, the unloading period and the initial crack length on the crack extension rate. Finally, a Paris-like law for the prediction of crack extension rate as well as of fatigue life in a visco-elasto-plastic material is suggested.