Fatigue crack growth microstructural mechanisms and texture-sensitive predictive modeling of lightweight structural metals

Long and small fatigue crack growth (FCG) mechanisms of various light structural aluminum and titanium alloys were studied with respect to microstructure, stress ratio, and initial flaw size and related to the effective slip length (grain and phase boundaries). Damage mechanism maps were developed to provide design tools to improve material selection for safety-critical structural components. A predictive model for grain size-controlled microstructurally small FCG was developed with consideration of crack size, grain orientation, and the stochastic effects of discrete microstructural interactions. The model allows for rapid estimation of small FCG behavior and agrees well with experimental data.

Automated summary

A study was conducted on the long and small fatigue crack growth mechanisms of various light structural aluminum and titanium alloys, leading to the development of a predictive model for microstructurally controlled small fatigue crack growth behavior, which agrees well with experimental data.