The influence of roller burnishing on the fatigue crack propagation in notched round bars - Experimental observations under three-point bending

Roller burnishing involves a local plastic deformation on the surface that permits the fatigue strength of structures to be increased. Crack propagation is delayed by the introduction of compressive residual stresses. In this way, the process is particularly useful in the presence of stress concentrators, for example in the fillets of crankshafts or in notched shafts. Crack propagation in round bars has been widely investigated, experimentally and numerically. However, the aim of the present work is to study roller burnished notched shafts (whose groove approaches the fillets of crankshafts) loaded in three-point bending. Experimentally, a sequence of destructive interrupted tests has been performed to obtain the crack kinetics and shapes during fatigue life. Thus, the beneficial influence of roller burnishing has been confirmed on both crack initiation and propagation. Some cracks were even stopped by compressive residual stresses. Otherwise, the crack shape observed was very original : cracks propagated first at the edge of the coupon and then, into the depth of the shaft. Multicracking and crack closure have been pointed out and appear to be of great importance.