Mechanical fatigue failure occurs in components subjected to cyclic loading. A crack initiates at critical regions in the component and propagates during repeated loading. The expected fatigue life depends on the level, type and frequency of the loading. Generally, as implied by the Wohler’s SN curve, higher applied cyclic load leads to lower fatigue lifes and vice versa. When designing mechanical components carrying cyclic loading, engineers take into account the fatigue limit, i.e. the material specific maximum load allowed for the desired fatigue life. In automotive machinery, components are often required to withstand a very high amount of load cycles before failing. Hence, fatigue data for the very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) regime becomes significant.

In this thesis, an ultrasonic fatigue testing system, with 20 kHz loading frequency, was used to determine the fatigue properties of three high strength low alloyed automotive steels (a ferritic-pearlitic, a martensitic and a carburizing martensitic steel) in the VHCF regime. Theoretical modelling taking into account the influence of the high load frequency was developed and utilized to control the experimental testing. Fatigue strength, crack initiation mechanisms and crack propagation behaviour in the VHCF regime were studied. More specifically, fatigue strength (σ_N) at 10⁸ cycles, in both uniaxial and bending loading, crack growth rate (da/dN) and threshold behaviour (ΔK_th) in the low stress intensity factor regime were determined using specially designed specimens and test rigs.

The fatigue failure of the automotive steels in the VHCF regime, revealed fracture surfaces with fine granular area (FGA) formation close to the initiation point, with a transition to flat transgranular crack growth inside the fish-eye area. The stress intensity thresholds of FGA and fish-eye transitions are described and related to crack tip plastic zone sizes and steel strength.

The effect of damping at 20 kHz, on automotive steels, was thoroughly studied by experimental measurements and theoretical investigations. The effect of introducing damping in dynamic analysis of stress and stress intensity computations for fatigue strength and crack growth testing at 20 kHz was clarified. Best practice for theoretical modelling and computation of stress intensities in crack growth testing at 20 kHz, including the effect of damping, along with guidelines for best practice testing procedure are provided.

In automotive machinery, components are often required to withstand a very high amount of loading cycles before failing. Hence, fatigue data for the very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) regime are of importance for the engineers designing such components. In this thesis, the VHCF properties of three different high strength microalloyed automotive steel grades are investigated. Through theoretical computation and modelling, as well as experimental testing, knowledge of fatigue strength as well as crack initiation and propagation behaviour is gained.

The influence of high load frequency on both theoretical computation and experimental testing of fatigue properties was analyzed and conclusions were drawn. An ultrasonic fatigue testing system at 20 kHz load frequency was used to perform uniaxial and bending fatigue, and crack growth testing.