Surface crack growth in notched round bars under rotary bending

The fatigue growth of a surface flaw in both smooth and notched round bars subjected to rotary bending is numerically simulated by means of a two-parameter theoretical model proposed by the first author. The stress intensity factor distribution along the crack front is needed to apply the above model. Therefore, finite element analyses and the superposition principle are herein used to determine such a distribution for a wide range of crack configurations and any position of the flaw with respect to the bending moment axis. The results related to rotary bending are then compared to those related to pulsating cyclic bending