Effect of frequency on fatigue lifetime of extruded Mg-3%Al-1%Zn alloy

Samples prepared from as-extruded magnesium alloy Mg-3%Al-1%Zn (AZ31) billets were utilized in low-cycle fatigue tests in order to investigate the frequency-dependent fatigue life. Fully reversed strain-controlled tension-compression fatigue tests were carried out at frequencies of 1 Hz and 10 Hz in air. The microstructures were examined by optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). When the strain amplitude was lower than 0.2%, the fatigue life exhibited a positive correlation with loading frequency, and the activity of twinning was increased at 10 Hz. When the strain amplitude was higher than 0.2%, significant twinning was observed both at these two frequencies, and the fatigue life was found to be independent of frequency. The possible reasons for this frequency-related fatigue lifetime may be due to the dependence of twinning upon loading frequency and strain amplitude.