Citation:
F. Lefebvre, G. Serrano, S. Ganguly, I. Sinclair, Simulation of fatigue behaviour in fusion welded 2024-T351, Materials Forum, 2004, Vol. 28, pp1110-1115
Abstract:
A model has been developed to predict short crack fatigue life in the fusion zone of Metal
Inert Gas (MIG) welded 2024-T351, based on the observed propensity for complex,
multiple cracking processes in this region. To initiate cracks, a Monte-Carlo method has
been used, based on the probability of initiation at interdendritic defects derived from the
experimental observations. Short crack propagation simulation has been achieved via a
microstructurally sensitive approach using continuous dislocation distribution methods.
Different geometrical conditions to define crack shielding or crack coalescence have also
been identified, along with a first order estimate of crack closure effects and associated
influences of residual stress on crack growth. In the regime of specific interest here (crack
growth to 1mm total length), good correlation is shown between measured and predicted
fatigue performance.
