Abstract
Abstract
Theory predicts that the position of maximum stress in short-link chain loaded elastically in tension is the crown, and this suggests that fatigue failures should occur there. In contrast, recent experimental work has shown that fatigue failures in these links occur at the junctions of intrados with straight sides, and photoelastic studies have confirmed that this is the position of maximum stress. This discrepancy is thought to be due to the fact that the theory assumes point loading between adjacent links and takes no account of ‘bedding down’ of the links. In the present work, bedding down has been minimized by the use of line loading, and crown failures have been obtained during fatigue cycling below the elastic limit.
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