A Study on Corrosion Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior in Al-Alloy 7075-T651 (I)

Al-Alloy 7075-T651의 부식피로균열 성장거동에 관한 연구(I)

Fatigue crack growth rates(i.e. crack initiation and crack growth of short and long crack) are investigated using commercial plates of high strength Al alloy 7075-T651 for the transverse-longitudinal(T-L) direction in air, water and sea water. Also, the evaluation direct current potential drop(D.C.P.D) method and the fractographical analysis by SEM are carried out. Near threshold region, short crack growth rates were much faster than those of comparable long cracks, and these short crack growth rates actually decrease with increasing crack growth and eventually merge with long crack data. Fatigue crack propagation rates in aggressive media(i.e. sea water) increase noticeably over three times those in air. One of the most significant characters in this phenomenon as a corrosion-fatigue causes an acceleration in crack growth rates. Sea water environment, particularly Cl$^{[-10]}$ solution brings the most detrimental effects to aluminum alloy. The result of fractographical morphology in air, water and sea water by SEM shows obvious dimpled rupture and typical striation in air, but transgranular fracture surface in water and sea water.