Fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth analysis of 7050-T7451 alloy thick plate with different thicknesses

The strength, fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth resistance of 7050-T7451 aluminum alloy plate with different thicknesses (35 mm and 160 mm) were investigated by means of optical microscope, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The results show that thicker plate has lower strength and fracture toughness but higher fatigue crack growth resistance, by comparison to the thinner plate. The drop of strength is mainly attributed to grain coarsening in the thicker plate, and the increased degree of recrystallization results in the loss of K (IC). However, the coarsened grains in the thicker plate make cracks deflected and closure effect enhanced due to surface roughness increased. For both of plates, in the fracture surface subjected plain strain, a transition from transgranular dimpled fracture to intergranular dimpled fracture is observed during the fracture process.