Environmentally Influenced Near-Threshold Fatigue Crack Growth in 7075-T651 Aluminum Alloy
SourceThe near-threshold fatigue crack growth behavior of the 7075-T651 aluminum alloy was studied in laboratory air, vacuum, and an aqueous 3.5% NaCl solution. Results indicate that a rising stress ratio (R) enhanced the near-threshold fatigue crack growth by increasing the crack growth rate (da/dN) and decreasing the threshold stress intensity range (ΔKth) in both laboratory air and aqueous 3.5% NaCl solution. However, the reverse was observed in vacuum. It was also noticed that the near-threshold fatigue crack growth resistance was greatest in vacuum, intermediate in aqueous 3.5% NaCl solution, and lowest in laboratory air. Conversely, the crack growth rate at given values of AK were shown to be greatest in laboratory air, less in 3.5% NaCl solution, and lowest in vacuum. In both laboratory air and aqueous 3.5% NaCl solution, ΔKth, initially decreased with increasing R until a critical stress ratio of Rc = 0.5 was reached, which it then leveled off or decreased slightly. The ΔKth values for these two environments appear to converge at a higher R. On the other hand, in vacuum, the ΔKth, increased linearly with increasing R. In addition, at lower R, a greater resistance to near-threshold fatigue crack growth was detected in aqueous 3.5% NaCl solution than in laboratory air. This is presumably attributed to crack closure that has been induced by accumulation of corrosion product in the crack-tip.