Home▸Materials Science▸Overload-Induced Fatigue Crack Retardation

Overload-Induced Fatigue Crack Retardation

Interactive Paris-law fatigue crack growth simulator with the Wheeler overload-retardation model: grow an edge crack cycle by cycle, apply a single overload cycle, and watch the plastic-zone-driven slowdown in real time before the plate fractures.

Materials Science3DAdvanced60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 2D version

Most fatigue-life estimates assume a crack grows at a steady rate given by the Paris law, da/dN = C(ΔK)^m — but a single unusually high load cycle changes that. This simulator grows a real edge crack in a 3D plate under cyclic stress, tracking stress-intensity factor ΔK and crack length cycle by cycle, until the plate fractures once K_max reaches the material's fracture toughness. Firing an overload cycle leaves behind an oversized crack-tip plastic zone (Irwin's estimate), and the Wheeler (1972) retardation model throttles subsequent growth until the crack re-grows through that zone — visible as a dip in the live da/dN chart and a slower crack in the 3D view. Switch between steel, aluminum and titanium presets, adjust the load ratio and overload severity, and watch how retardation strength (the Wheeler exponent) changes the shape of the slowdown.

⚙ Under the hood

Grow a fatigue crack cycle by cycle with the Paris law, fire a single overload cycle, and watch the Wheeler model's plastic-zone retardation slow crack growth before the plate fractures at K_IC.

fatiguefracture-mechanicsparis-lawmaterials-sciencecrack-growthwheeler-model

3D · Three.js / WebGL renderer · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install