A Comparison of Fatigue Crack Propagation Rates in CM002 (Unclad RR58) Aluminium Alloy Immersed in Jet Fuel and a Fuel Simulant.

摘要

Fatigue crack propagation tests were conducted on CM002 (unclad RR58) Aluminium alloy sheet under a flight-by-flight loading sequence. The specimens were immersed in jet fuel at 70 C and in fuel simulant at 90 C to simulate conditions in Concorde service and in the Concorde Major Fatigue Test respectively. No large difference in crack propagation was observed. Comparison with the results of similar tests in air at room temperature and at 90 C suggested that the presence of fuel or fuel simulant did not in itself materially affect crack growth. (Author)