Effect of Split-Sleeve Cold Expansion on the Fatigue Life of 7050-T7451 Aluminum Alloy
Split-sleeve cold expansion processing was employed on the 7050-T7451 aluminum alloy plate. Fatigue lives were compared according different expansion, then the relationship of fatigue life and expansion was analyzed. Residual stresses were measured with different expansion, and the fatigue fractograph was analyzed by SEM. The results show that the split-sleeve cold expansion can obtain longer life compared with the non-strengthen hole. When over the optimum expansion, fatigue life began to decrease. The maximum fatigue life increased to 2.92 times with 4.1% expansion. The maximum values of radial residual stresses grew with expansion. The depths of residual compressive stresses were more than 6mm with 2.6% and 4.1% expansion. The fatigue fractograph shows mixed transgranular fracture.