Fracture Mechanics Parameters for a 5083-0 Aluminum Alloy at Low Temperatures

The fatigue crack growth and fracture resistance of a 5083-0 aluminum alloy plate were investigated at four temperatures in the ambient-to-cryogenic range—295, 111, 76, and 4 K. J-integral test methods were applied using compact specimens 3.17 cm thick, and the value of J required to initiate crack extension (JIc) is reported as an index of fracture toughness. The fracture toughness was orientation dependent, with anisotropy accounting for JIc variations of up to a factor of 2. For specimens having fracture planes parallel to the rolling direction, JIc increases progressively from 9 to 25 kJm−2 as temperature decreases between 295 and 4 K. In contrast, the fatigue crack growth rates (da/dN) are insensitive to specimen orientation. The fatigue crack growth rates at cryogenic temperatures are up to 10 times lower than in air at room temperature, but are virtually constant between 111 and 4 K.