Influence of different machining processes on fatigue life performance of engineered surfaces: a short review

In this paper fundamental information on the influence of the real machined surfaces generated by different machining processes on the fatigue life of machine parts are presented. In the first part the various approaches for the assessment of the stress concentration factor and the correction of a fatigue life limit are discussed. In the second part the results of standard fatigue tests are compared with computed data and predictions using FEM based simulations. The effect of surface discontinues (valleys) in the real surface profiles is related to engineered parts made of different materials including steels, aluminium alloys, aerospace alloys and composites.