Limits to the applicability of LEFM in notch fatigue

Abstract A comparison is made between elastic-plastic, and linear-elastic, fracture mechanics parameters, for notch fatigue problems. It is shown that in high-strength aluminium alloy 2024-T351, at normal working stress levels, the errors involved in using LEFM for any crack detectable during non-destructive testing, is likely to be small. The applicability of the method to structural steels is also discussed, and some problems identified.