Development of short fatigue cracks in aluminum alloy 2524-T3 specimens

Abstract

The development of short fatigue cracks in a 2524-T3 alloy is studied under cyclic tension conditions. Flat specimens with a stress concentrator in the form of a central hole are analyzed. The replica technique is used to determine the microcrack parameters and to estimate the cyclic damage characteristics of the alloy in the stress concentrator zone. The experimental results are compared to the fatigue lives estimated by a calculation-experimental method using the NASGRO software package. The experimental fatigue life at the stage of short crack initiation is found to be significantly shorter than the calculated fatigue life.