Healing of fatigue damage by metallic atom rearrangement and recombination through high-density electron collisions

为了防止结构老化事故的发生，提高结构的疲劳寿命，提出了一种疲劳裂纹愈合技术。其结果是，通过施加高密度电流，实现了疲劳裂纹的闭合和裂纹表面之间的结合。暂时降低裂纹扩展速率也是成功的。此外，由于位错密度的降低，疲劳裂纹的萌生也得到了延迟。结果发现，电刺激技术具有治愈疲劳裂纹和恢复疲劳损伤的潜力。

A technique to heal fatigue crack was developed to prevent accidents due to aging of structures and improve their fatigue life. As the results, the closure of the fatigue crack and the bonding between the crack surfaces were realized by applying high-density electric current. Decreasing the crack growth rate temporarily was also succeeded. In addition, the delay of fatigue crack initiation was realized due to the decrease of dislocation density. It was found that the technique with the electrical stimulation has the potential to heal a fatigue crack and to restore fatigue damage.