Elasto-plastic finite element studies of fatigue crack shielding in multi-layered systems

Abstract

Multi-layered systems used in automotive plain bearings show complex patterns of crack growth under service conditions. The studied architecture consists of a steel backing (1.8 mm), a compliant pure-aluminum interlayer (0.04 mm) and a lining of medium-strength aluminum alloy (0.38 mm). Previous experimental studies [1] with flat strip specimens of identical architecture under three point bending indicated similar crack propagation patterns despite the absence of mixed mode loadin