High resolution X-ray tomography of micromechanisms of fatiLyue crack closure

Fatigue crack closure has been studied in an aluminium alloy via micro tomography. Gallium wetting has been used to visualise grain structure, along with electron backscattered diffraction assessment of grain orientations and crack trajectories. Through this synthesis of techniques, a detailed direct assessment of microstructure and closure micromechanisms has been achieved. (c) 2006 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.