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Fatigue crack growth in 5052-H34 aluminum in vacuum and active gas environments

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Abstract

Center-notched sheet specimens of 5052-H34 aluminum alloy were fatigued at load ratios (R) of 0, 0.2, and 0.43. Crack growth rate at each value ofR was studied as a function of stress intensity amplitude (ΔK) and water vapor or oxygen pressure, referenced to vacuum and laboratory air. Crack rates at a givenR and ΔK were found to increase within the range defined by vacuum and air for a corresponding increase of water vapor pressure but remained essentially constant over the range of oxygen pressures tested. In water vapor a crack rate transition pressure (separating low pressure-low growth rates from high pressure-high growth rates), inversely related toR, was observed. Results are discussed in terms of several models predicting the critical pressure of an active gas environment. A mechanism involving hydrogen embrittlement and one involving a humidity dependent aluminum oxide modulus are both found to be plausible.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Metallurgy Department and Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, 06268, Storrs, Connecticut

    J. Steven Enochs (Graduate Assistant) & Owen F. Devereux (Associate Professor)

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  1. J. Steven Enochs
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  2. Owen F. Devereux
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Enochs, J.S., Devereux, O.F. Fatigue crack growth in 5052-H34 aluminum in vacuum and active gas environments. Metall Trans A 6, 391 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02667295

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02667295

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