Abstract:
The influence of sequential action of corrosion and fatigue on fatigue behaviour of 2024-
T3 aluminium
alloy was investigated. EXCO solution was used for corrosion
development. Corrosion evolution and penetration were investigated in terms of
exposure time, dimensional characteristics, orientation, microstructure of material,
incremental corrosion
application and sequential application of corrosion and fatigue.
Single Edge Notch Tensile specimens were used in the fatigue-corrosion tests. Fatigue
intervals were
interrupted by corrosion application. Four fatigue intervals and four
corrosion
segment times were incorporated in the test matrix. The results of fatigue
ínitiation, propagation and total life were compared to the virgin and pre-corroded
materials' behaviour. The main mechanisms of crack acceleration and arrest were
identified and discussed relative to the
morphology of corrosion development. Finally a
comparison was tried between the experimental lives and the predicted ones, calculated
from two crack
growth packages using the most conservative approach.
