Fatigue crack growth in the aluminium alloy D16 under constant and variable amplitude loading

摘要

Fatigue crack growth experiments were carried out on sheet specimens of the Russian alloy D16Cz (Al-Cu-Mg alloy). Constant-amplitude tests were performed at different stress ratios. Variable-amplitude tests included experiments with a single overload, periodic overloads and underloads, and the flight-simulation load history miniFALSTAFF. Fractographic observations were made to obtain information from striations and the development of shear lips. Results are presented and compared to literature data for 2024-T3. Attention is paid to incompatible crack front orientations and consequences for crack growth prediction models.