The effect of residual stresses on the reverse bending fatigue strength of steel sheets with punched holes
was studied for steels with tensile strength grades of 540 MPa and 780 MPa. Tensile and compressive
residual stresses were induced around the punched holes. Heat treatment of the specimens with punched
holes at 873 K for 1 h decreased the residual stresses around the holes and improved the fatigue strength
of the sheets. This result means that the tensile residual stresses induced in the sidewalls of the holes and
near the hole edges by punching reduced fatigue strength. The effect of the residual stresses on the fatigue
limits of the edges was estimated by the modified Goodman relation using the residual stresses after
cyclic loading and the ultimate tensile strength at the fatigue crack initiation sites.