Fatigue crack healing by a controlled high density electric current field

A technique was developed to heal a fatigue crack in stainless steel by controlling a high-density electric current field. The high density electric current field was applied at the tip of the crack by using closely spaced electrodes. From the experimental results, it was observed the crack closure and the bridging between the surfaces of a crack were caused around the vicinity of the crack tip after a high density pulse current was applied to a specimen. It was shown that crack propagation was delayed temporarily in the healed specimen.

► A technique was developed to heal a fatigue crack in stainless steel.
► A high density electric current was applied at the tip of the crack.
► The crack closure and the bridging between the surfaces of a crack were caused.
► Crack propagation was delayed temporarily in the healed specimen.