SEM analysis of PA38-T6 aluminum alloy thin-walled tubular specimen fatigue fracture, and comparison to surface replication results

The paper presents results of SEM analysis of fatigue fracture surface of thin-walled tubular specimen manufactured from PA38-T6 aluminum alloy. In the previous research specimens were subjected to multiaxial loadings. They were axial, torsional, in-phase, 90º out-of-phase and asynchronous loadings. During the fatigue experiments, the process of initiation and development of cracks was tracked using the surface replication technique, using cellulose acetate thin foils. In the present work, SEM observations of fatigue fracture surface were conducted and compared to previously obtained data. It was confirmed, that the dominating mechanism of fatigue crack formation was the coalescence of small crack, regardless of loading type and level.