Localized autofrettage as a design tool for the fatigue improvement of cross-bored cylinders

An investigation was launched into the feasibility of improving the fatigue life of thick-walled cylinders with cross-bores by using a localized autofrettage technique. This technique utilized the high stress concentration at the cross-bore to induce localized residual stresses using relatively low internal pressures. An elastic-plastic finite-element analysis indicated that the resulting residual stresses in the vicinity of the cross-bore were predominately compressive and not sufficient in magnitude to induce reverse plasticity. When the resulting residual stresses were used with an elastic fracture-mechanics assessment of a quarter-circular crack at the intersection of the cylinder and cross-bore inner diameter, a significant extension of fatigue life was shown to be possible. In addition to prolonging the useful life of the cylinder, the localized residual stresses were shown to be possible at pressures below the yield threshold for the thick-walled cylinder. Thus, reverse plasticity, permanent deformations, and the need for post-autofrettage machining operations that could inadvertently lessen the beneficial results of a traditional autofrettage were avoided.