| Abstract Scope |
Fretting fatigue crack formation arises from complex interactions between multiaxial contact mechanics and microstructural heterogeneity within a highly localized deformation volume. This presentation considers foundational work conducted with Professor David McDowell that introduced crystal plasticity models to simulate the cyclic deformation of Ti-6Al-4V under fretting conditions, revealing the critical role of ratchetting, shakedown, and slip system anisotropy in crack nucleation. The mechanics of contact, which involve normal and tangential force interactions, severe stress/strain gradients, and friction, combine with microstructure-sensitive phenomena such as crystallographic orientation, grain morphology, and phase distribution to govern local plasticity evolution and fatigue damage. Subsequent developments employing three-dimensional crystal plasticity and experimentally informed microstructural representations have enabled quantitative assessments of fatigue indicators and crack-driving forces. These models reveal how crystallographic texture and grain size influence the spatial distribution of accumulated plastic shear strain, offering pathways to design fretting-resistant materials. |