Three Dimensional Fractography of Extruded Age-Hardened Al Alloys Subjected to Fatigue Tests

2018 ◽  
Vol 940 ◽  
pp. 89-93
Author(s):  
Yuzo Nakamura ◽  
Ryuichi Iwamoto ◽  
Yuta Kurigeno ◽  
Hiroki Kamibayashi ◽  
Kohji Kariya ◽  
...  

Observation of fracture surface in metal fatigue is one of the most significant procedures to get insight into the cause and mechanism of crack initiation and propagation. In the present study, age-hardened 2017-T4 and 7075-T6 Al alloys having the extrusion texture were fatigue tested in low and high humidities, and their fracture surfaces were examined using a three dimensional (3D) surface analyzer. In addition to the microscopic observations conducted, it is shown that these 3D analyses provide important information on the difference in crack propagation depending on the stress level and environment.

Author(s):  
Jeroen Van Wittenberghe ◽  
Patrick De Baets ◽  
Wim De Waele

Threaded couplings are used in various applications to connect steel pipes. To maintain a secure connection, such couplings are preloaded and during service additional dynamic loads can act on the connections. The coupling’s threads act as stress raisers, initiating fatigue cracks, which can cause the connection to fail in time. Accurate knowledge of the fatigue behavior, taking into account crack initiation and propagation is necessary to understand the fatigue mechanisms involved. In this study, the fatigue behavior of tapered couplings with NPT threads is studied. This is done by analyzing the results of an experimental four-point bending test. The fatigue crack propagation is monitored using an optical dynamic 3D displacement measurement device and LVDTs to measure the crack opening. At certain times during the test, the load ratio is changed to apply a number of beach marking cycles. This way a fine line is marked in the fracture surface. These marked crack shapes are used as input for a finite element model. The measured deflection and crack opening are compared to the results of the numerical simulations. Using this methodology a distinction is made between fatigue crack initiation and propagation. By analyzing the fracture surface it was observed that once the crack is initiated, it propagates over a wide segment of the pipe’s circumference and subsequently rapidly penetrates the wall of the pipe. The observed crack growth rates are confirmed by a fracture mechanics analysis. Since the appearing long shallow crack is difficult to detect at an early stage the importance is demonstrated of accurate knowledge of the fatigue behavior of threaded connections in order to define acceptable flaw sizes and inspection intervals.


2007 ◽  
Vol 353-358 ◽  
pp. 1185-1190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Ping Zeng ◽  
Hong Mei Fan ◽  
Xi Shu Wang ◽  
Xi Shan Xie

Specially designed SEM in-situ tensile and fatigue tests have been conducted to trace the entire process of crack initiation and propagation till fracture in an ultra-high strength steel MA250. TiN is a typical inclusion and its average size is in the range of 8~10μm in MA250 steel. The micro-mechanism of the effect of TiN inclusion on crack initiation and propagation at tensile and fatigue tests both have been studied in detail. Experimental results show the harmful effect of TiN on tensile and fatigue properties both. This work is helpful to establish the practical life prediction model for the characteristic inclusion parameters in ultra-high strength steel components. It also enlightens us to eliminate TiN in the further development of ultra-high strength steels.


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