Crack Growth Model for Evaluation the Fatigue Life of Aluminum Alloys

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to experimentally determine the fatigue life of the aluminum alloys AA2014 and AA7075-T651 by measuring the lengths of short and long cracks practically under bending stress with constant amplitude loading and stress ratio (R = -1) at room temperature (RT) 25 C0 by employing Basquin's equation. To determine the fatigue life curve for both alloys at five different levels of constant amplitude stresses, the average failure cycles of three specimens at each stress level were recorded. The surface of specimen was replicated with cellulose paper and liquid acetone. This piece was examined using an optical microscope to record the length of the crack and the number of cycles corresponding to it at a constant stress level. The lengths of the cracks were then measured using the replication approach. A unique mathematical model was created to describe the relationship between crack speed (da/dN) and the length of short and long cracks in order to predict the overall fatigue life of each alloy. When the model's result was contrasted with actual outcomes, the conclusions were reliable and productive.

Keywords

• AA2014
• AA7075-T651
• Crack growth rate
• Replication technique
• Short and long cracks