[pt] O projeto mecânico de componentes estruturais para vidas longas à fadiga requer limites de fadiga confiáveis. Porém, a previsão do limite de fadiga ainda apresenta alguns desafios, especialmente por causa dos inevitáveis entalhes e pela presença de pequenos defeitos intrínsecos do material que podem ser considerados como microtrincas. Os entalhes atuam como concentradores de tensão e microtrincas podem ser geradas na ponta destes. Tais microtrincas (geradas ou intrínsecas) podem propagar até provocar a falha do componente ou parar de propagar depois de crescer uma pequena distância e se tornarem não-propagantes, dependendo do nível de carga e do gradiente de tensão à frente do entalhe. Modelos empíricos e teóricos têm sido propostos para fazer previsão do limite de fadiga de componentes entalhados. Entre os teóricos, o chamado modelo do Gradiente de Tensão (GT), que utiliza conceitos da mecânica da fratura linear elástica, apresenta-se como um modelo promissor. No entanto, a validação experimental das previsões deste modelo ainda não tem sido completamente realizada. Neste contexto, corpos de prova tipo C(T) do aço 1020 e com vários valores do raio da ponta do entalhe foram testados sob controle de amplitude de carga constante, frequência de 40 Hz e razão de tensão R igual a 0.1 para avaliar o limite de fadiga através de testes acelerados com cargas tipo step up durante blocos de 3.10 elevado a sexta potência ciclos. O limite de fadiga determinado experimentalmente foi comparado com as previsões do modelo GT e do Método do Ponto, um dos métodos da chamada Teoria da Distância Crítica (TDC). No modelo GT foram considerados três métodos: GTc-p, GTs-e e GTquebra, segundo o método usado para achar o fator geométrico para determinar o fator de intensidade de tensão. As previsões dos modelos GTc-p, GTquebra e TDC são similares no caso de entalhes com raios de ponta grandes, e bem próximas do limite de fadiga medido experimentalmente, enquanto que eles são não-conservativos no caso de entalhes afiados (raios de ponta pequenos). As previsões do modelo GTs-e foram conservativas para entalhes afiados e não afiados. Devido a que os dois modelos são baseados em conceitos lineares elásticos, foi demonstrado que uma análise elástica apresenta limitações para modelar o comportamento à fadiga em entalhes afiados, pois nesses casos a tensão local no ponto crítico pode exceder o limite de escoamento do material. Alem disso, o modelo GT também permite estimar o tamanho da maior trinca curta não-propagante (TCNP) associada ao limite de fadiga. Tais TCNP foram monitoradas nas faces do C(T) através de técnicas não-destrutivas tais como microscopia óptica, correlação digital de imagens e tomografia; enquanto que as TCNP internas foram detectadas usando a técnica destrutiva da metalografia. Os tamanhos das TCNP detectadas foram muito menores do que as estimadas pelo modelo GT, dificultando ainda mais o problema de detecção daquelas trincas. / [en] The mechanical design of structural components for high cycle fatigue applications needs reliable fatigue limits. However, mainly because of notches and the unavoidable presence of small defects, such a task still presents some challenges. Notches cause a stress concentration effect that can initiate short cracks at their tips, but such short cracks may propagate or become non-propagating, depending not only on the load level, but on the stress gradient ahead of the notch tip as well. Notch-like defects, such as scratches, pores, and inclusions, behave in the same way. There are empirical and theoretical models to predict the fatigue limit of notched components. The latter includes the so-called Stress Gradient (SG) model, based on linear elastic fracture mechanics concepts and using the El Haddad-Topper-Smith (ETS) characteristic size aR, as a promissory approach. However, there is a lack of experimental data verifying their fatigue limit predictions. In this context, C(T)-like notched specimens of SAE 1020 steel with several notch root radii were tested under constant load amplitude control at 40 Hz and a stress ratio R equal 0.1, to evaluate their fatigue limit through accelerated tests involving step loading procedures with blocks of 3.10 to sixth power cycles. The experimental fatigue limit was compared with values predicted by SG model, following three approaches: SGc-p, SGs-e, and SGquebra, according to the determination of the geometric factor of the stress concentration factor; and with an alternative prediction by the Point Method based on the theory of critical-distance (TCD). SGc-p, SGquebra and TCD model predictions are almost coincident for blunt notches and they present a good agreement with experimental results, but they are non-conservatives in the case of sharp notches; while SGc-p predictions are conservative for both blunt and sharp notches. Since both models are based on linear elastic concepts, it was demonstrated that an elastic analysis presents limitations to model the behavior of short cracks emanating from sharp notches, due to the local stress at the critical point can exceed the yield strength of the material. Furthermore, according to SG model, the fatigue limit is related to the presence of non-propagating short cracks (NPSC). Such surface NPSCs on the face of the specimens were monitored by non-destructive techniques including optical microscopy, digital image correlation (DIC) and micro-computed tomography; whereas subsurface NPSCs were detected through destructive metallographic technique. The sizes of the detected NPSCs were much smaller than those values predicted by SG model, which in turn makes the detection of these cracks a more complex problem.

[pt] Esta dissertação revisita quatro modelos multiaxiais de dano por fadiga (SWTD, SWT, Findley e Crossland) e discute a sua aplicação na previsão do risco de nucleação de trinca sob solicitações de fadiga por fretting segundo as abordagens local e não-local. As previsões do risco de nucleação de trinca obtidas através dos modelos estudados foram confrontadas com dados experimentais disponíveis na literatura para o contato cilindro/plano em aços AISI 52100 e AISI 1034 respectivamente. As melhores previsões foram obtidas através da versão desviadora SWTD. Segundo a abordagem local, o modelo SWTD fez previsões menos conservativas que os demais, sendo estas com erros conservativos inferiores a 15 porcento. Segundo a abordagem não-local, os quatro modelos geram previsões com erros inferiores a 15 porcento se os mesmos forem calibrados de forma independente. É importante mencionar que as melhores previsões obtidas através da abordagem não-local (que requer a calibração de um parâmetro adicional) são similares àquelas obtidas por SWTD local. Especificamente para os testes de fadiga por fretting com carga remota, o modelo SWTD não-local gerou previsões com 100 porcento de acertos (13 testes). Segundo a abordagem não-local, foi verificado que, para o conjunto de testes estudado, a precisão nas previsões é mais influenciada pela dimensão característica (que deve ser calibrada) que pelo modelo de fadiga multiaxial ou método de integração considerado. Por fim, verificou-se que previsões não conservativas podem ser obtidas ao se considerar uma dimensão característica assumida como parâmetro material (sem calibração) tal qual a distância crítica proposta por Taylor, definida em termos do método do ponto. / [en] This work presents and discusses four multiaxial fatigue damage models (SWTD, SWT, Findley and Crossland) applied to crack nucleation prediction under fretting fatigue loadings according to the local and the non-local approaches. The predictions have been compared with experimental data available in the literature for the cylinder on flat configuration made of 52100 and 1034 AISI steel s respectively. In particular, for the data set analyzed, SWTD parameter (deviatoric version of SWT model) predictions were less conservative than the ones made by the other three models and have better correlated the experimental results. Considering the local approach, the error observed on the SWTD predictions was lower than 15 percent. On the other hand, for the non-local approach, it has been demonstrated that the four multiaxial fatigue models can provide crack nucleation predictions with similar level of accuracy (error lower than 15 percent) if the characteristic dimension is calibrated model-by-model. Note that this same level of accuracy was obtained with SWTD parameter defined in terms of the local approach, which requires one less parameter to be calibrated (characteristic dimension). In particular, considering only the fretting fatigue tests with bulk stresses, SWTD non-local (area method) prediction accuracy was 100 percent (13 tests). For the material studied, it has also been concluded that the non-local predictions accuracy depends more on the calibrated characteristic dimension than on the multiaxial model or integration method considered. Moreover, it has been verified that non-conservative predictions can be made if the characteristic dimension is assumed as a material property as proposed by Taylor on the critical distances theory (point method).

Measures of workload have been developed on the basis of the various definitions, some are designed to capture the multi-dimensional aspects of a unitary resource pool (Kahneman, 1973) while others are developed on the basis of multiple resource theory (Wickens, 2002). Although many theory based workload measures exist, others have often been constructed to serve the purpose of specific experimental tasks. As a result, it is likely that not every workload measure is reliable and valid for all tasks, much less each domain. To date, no single measure, systematically tested across experimental tasks, domains, and other measures is considered a universal measure of workload. Most researchers would argue that multiple measures from various categories should be applied to a given task to comprehensively assess workload. The goal for Study 1 to establish task load manipulations for two theoretically different tasks that induce distinct levels of workload assessed by both subjective and performance measures was successful. The results of the subjective responses support standardization and validation of the tasks and demands of that task for investigating workload. After investigating the use of subjective and objective measures of workload to identify a universal and comprehensive measure or set of measures, based on Study 2, it can only be concluded that not one or a set of measures exists. Arguably, it is not to say that one will never be conceived and developed, but at this time, one does not reside in the psychometric catalog. Instead, it appears that a more suitable approach is to customize a set of workload measures based on the task. The novel approach of assessing the sensitivity and comprehensive ability of conjointly utilizing subjective, performance, and physiological workload measures for theoretically different tasks within the same domain contributes to the theory by laying the foundation for improving methodology for researching workload. The applicable contribution of this project is a stepping-stone towards developing complex profiles of workload for use in closed-loop systems, such as human-robot team iv interaction. Identifying the best combination of workload measures enables human factors practitioners, trainers, and task designers to improve methodology and evaluation of system designs, training requirements, and personnel selection