Study of the interaction of a short fatigue crack with grain boundaries in a cast Al alloy using X-ray microtomography

Synchrotron Radiation X-ray microtomography is used to visualize and analyze simultaneously the three-dimensional shape of crystallographic grains containing a short fatigue crack in a cast Al alloy. The visualization of the grains is based on the decoration of Al grain boundaries by liquid Ga which serves as a selective contrast agent. The intricate three-dimensional shape of the fatigue crack, as well as the crack stops observed on the sample surface, are correlated to the grain structure of the material. Complementary measurements of the grain orientation on the sample surface by electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) allow us to discuss and interpret the observations in terms of possible crack propagation mechanisms. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc.