ASSESSMENT OF THE INFLUENCE OF RESIDUAL A ND MEAN STRESSES ON THE FATIGUE LIMIT OF A QUENCHED AND TEMPERED LOW-ALLOYED STEEL

The effect of mean and residual stresses on the fatigue limit oi steel s is known qualitatively since a long time. The quantitative descripti on of the effect of residual stresses seems yet not sufficiently solve d since the special characteristics of residual stresses like instabil ity during loading, multiaxiality, strong gradients and occasionally g reat differences between surface and volume are not totally considered by the known methods. An application of different concepts for the as sessment of residual and mean stresses on the fatigue limit of a quenc hed and tempered low allowed steel is presented. If the applied concep t takes account of the characteristics of residual stresses it is not necessary to distinguish between residual and mean stress sensitivity.