Effect of ageing on the morphology and creep and recovery of polymer-modified bitumens

Polymer additives are used to improve the properties of road bitumens including their oxidative resistance. However, their usage as anti-oxidative materials remains relatively unclear. This study aims to investigate the changes in the morphology and the rheological response of polymer modified bitumens used in road pavement construction caused by ageing. An elastomer (radial styrene butadiene styrene, SBS) and a plastomer (ethyl vinyl acetate, EVA) polymer were mixed with one base bitumen at three polymer concentrations. The bitumens were RTFO and PAV aged. The morphology of the bitumens was captured by fluorescence microscopy while the rheological properties were measured by means of the multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR) test. The results show that the morphology of the SBS modified bitumen degrades with ageing as a function of polymer concentration and dispersion, with higher dispersion being more resistant. The morphology of the EVA modified bitumen has a low ageing susceptibility irrespective of polymer concentration. The MSCR response of EVA modified bitumens does not differ from that found for unmodified bitumen, where the hardening produces a decrease in the non-recoverable compliance. In the case of SBS modified bitumen, the degradation of the polymer backbone affects the bitumen hardening as much as the polymer phase dispersed and networked in the bitumen phase. Furthermore, in the case of the elastomer, the average percent recovery is in agreement with the variation of the morphology with ageing. Therefore, the use of the average percent recovery as a valuable rheological index of the integrity of the polymer network can be advocated.     

Effect of low temperature ageing on the transformation behaviour of near-equiatomic NiTi

A unique three-stage transformation behaviour on cooling has been observed in a Ti-50.2 at% Ni alloy after a low temperature ageing treatment. The cooling transformation in the aged alloy occurred as a three-stage process of austenite-to-R phase transition followed by two separate martensitic transformations. The R phase transition developed during ageing with a clear second order nature initially and gradually evolved into a predominantly first order process. The occurrence of the R transition is not associated with a decrease in the martensitic transformation temperature during ageing. The reverse transformation to austenite occurred in one step, regardless of the nature of the forward transformation on cooling. An all-round shape memory effect was observed in aged samples. These experimental observations suggest that precipitation induced by the ageing treatment is responsible for the unusual transformation behaviour. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of temperature on the strength and fatigue behaviour of optical fibres

The fatigue behaviour of a polymer-coated fibre and a silicon oxynitride-coated fibre was measured in water between 25 and 90° C by the dynamic fatigue test technique where strength is measured as a function of stressing rate. The results are analysed in terms of stress corrosion theory. It was found that the silicon oxynitride coating reduced fatigue significantly, but caused a large reduction in strength of the fibre. The implications of these results to the design of optical fibre communication cables, where a high reliability must be assured, is discussed.     

A model to assess the fatigue behaviour of ageing aircraft fuselage

A computer efficient model for assessing the fatigue behaviour of ageing aircraft components in the presence of multiple site damage is introduced. The model involves the computation of crack initiation scenarios on the basis of a probabilistic approach and the estimation of the fatigue behaviour of complex, highly loaded aircraft structures using a deterministic concept. To reduce the computing effort because of the model size and mesh difficulties in crack propagation calculations, a sub-structuring procedure under the FE method is utilized. An incremental approach for calculating crack initiation and crack propagation has been involved; it leads to a further essential reduction of the computing effort. Computer simulation is compared with experimental results for characteristic multiple site damage problems of aluminium 2024 lap and butt joints.     

High temperature fatigue behaviour of intermetallics

There would be considerable benefits in developing new structural materials where high use temperatures and strength coupled with low density are minimum capabilities. Nickel and titanium aluminides exhibit considerable potential for near-term application in various branches of modern industry due to the number of property advantages they possess including low density, high melting temperature, high thermal conductivity, and excellent environmental resistance, and their amenability for significant improvment in creep and fatigue resistance through alloying. Reliability of intermetallics when used as engineering materials has not yet been fully established. Ductility and fracture toughness at room and intermediate temperatures continue to be lower than the desired values for production implementation. In this paper, progress made towards improving strain-controlled fatigue resistance of nickel and titanium aluminides is outlined. The effects of manufacturing processes and micro alloying on low cycle fatigue behaviour of NiAl are addressed. The effects of microstructure, temperature of testing, section thickness, brittle to ductile transition temperature, mean stress and environment on fatigue behaviour of same γ-TiAl alloys are discussed.     

Effect of notch on fatigue behaviour of a directionally solidified superalloy at high temperature

The effect of notch types and stress concentration factors (K_t) on low cycle fatigue life and cracking of the DZ125 directionally solidified superalloy has been experimentally investigated. Single‐edge notched specimens with V and U type geometries were tested at 850 °C with stress ratio R = 0.1. High temperature in situ optical method was used to observe crack initiation and short crack propagation. Scanning electron microscope observation of fracture was used to analyse the failure mechanism. The results reveal that fatigue resistance decreases with K_t increasing from 1.76 to 4.35. The ratcheting is found to be affected by both K_t and the nominal stress from the displacement–force curve. In situ observations indicate that the cracking does not occur at the notch apex but at the location where the max principal stress or Hill's stress is the highest. According to the scanning electron microscope observations, the failure of the notched specimens strongly depends on the anisotropy microstructures.     

The effect of thermal ageing on low cycle fatigue behaviour of 316 stainless steel welds

It is well known that welds are the weak links in any structure. Therefore, it is of out most importance to characterize the mechanical properties of welds. Moreover, the changes in the microstructure that occur in welds on exposure to high temperatures affect the mechanical properties and must be studied by ageing the welds at high temperature. In this paper the low cycle fatigue behaviour of thermally aged 316 stainless steel weld metal is presented. Weld pads with single V configuration were prepared by the shielded metal arc welding process using 316 electrodes. Thermal ageing was done for 10,000 h at 823 and 873 K. Total strain controlled low cycle fatigue tests were conducted at a constant strain rate of 3 × 10^?3 s^?1 with strain amplitudes in the range ±0.25% to ±0.6% at 823 and 873 K. Weld metal exhibited initial hardening followed by cyclic softening prior to failure. The aged samples exhibited higher stress response as compared to the unaged samples. At both the temperatures and all strain amplitudes fatigue life was inferior to that of unaged samples. The metallography of the aged and tested material was studied through optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The effect of transformation of δ-ferrite to sigma phase and carbides in the weld metal on low cycle fatigue behaviour was evaluated.     

Effect of ceramic reinforcement on the ageing behaviour of an aluminium alloy

The effect of a 20vol % alumina microsphere particulate on the age-hardening characteristics of a 6061 Al matrix composite was investigated — based on microhardness, electrical resistivity and X-ray mapping — and the composite is compared to the unreinforced 6061 Al alloy. It is shown that this ceramic reinforcement can affect the age-hardening behaviour of the matrix alloy by significantly accelerating the kinetics of precipitation. This acceleration is related to a decrease in nucleation time and to an increase in the precipitate-growth rate. The relative amounts of age-hardened precipitates are also observed to be affected by reinforcement addition.     

Isothermal and thermomechanical fatigue behaviour of a high temperature titanium alloy

Abstract

Isothermal and thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) behaviour (including cyclic stress response and number of cycles to failure) of a Ti – 5.6Al – 4.8Sn – 2.0Zr – 1.0Mo – 0.32Si – 0.8Nd (wt-%) hightemperature titanium alloy was examined. The purpose of the present investigation was to understand the effect of temperature fluctuation on the cyclic behaviour and fatigue life of this alloy and to test the suitability of lifetime prediction based on isothermal laboratory data. The results indicated that both the level of peak stress and fatigue life were decreasing with increasing test temperature from 400°C to 650°C in isothermal fatigue (IF) tests. In TMF tests run between 400°C and 600°C, the peak stresses corresponding to 600°C coincide well with that found in IF tests run at 600°C, while a slight increase in cyclic hardening was found for peak stress corresponding to 400°C compared to that found in a 400°C/IF test. This increase in cyclic hardening became more pronounced when the maximum temperature increased to 650°C. Fatigue life in 'out of phase' (OP) condition was found to be shorter than under an equivalent 'in phase' (IP) condition, and this gap increased with decreasing mechanical strain amplitude. The results indicate that lifetime prediction based on isothermal laboratory data may lead to non-conservative results if thermal fluctuations are present in components made of the present alloy.     

Effect of inclusions on fatigue behaviour of hardened spring steel

Abstract

The fatigue lifetimes of hourglass shaped specimens of a hardened spring steel were studied. The failure probability was determined experimentally at one loading level and causes of fatigue failure were identified on fracture surfaces. The depth profile of residual stresses after fatigue testing was determined using X-ray techniques. Cyclic flow data, long crack growth data, and the threshold for crack propagation were determined. Inclusion size distributions of the steel were obtained using different techniques. A model for the probability of fatigue failure of the hourglass specimens was formulated. Microcracks are assumed to exist at all inclusions and specimen failure is controlled by those cracks which can propagate to failure. Two different models based on linear fracture mechanics were used to determine critical inclusion sizes for crack propagation. The models take into account all the above independent experimental data, i.e. residual stresses, cyclic flow data, threshold for crack propagation, inclusion distribution, etc. Experimental failure probabilities were satisfactorily reproduced by the model.

MST/1648     

Effects of humidity and temperature on the fatigue behaviour of an extruded AZ61 magnesium alloy

Load‐controlled fatigue tests were performed at 20 and 50 °C using two relative humidity levels of 55 and 80% to characterize the influence of humidity and temperature on the fatigue behaviour of an extruded AZ61 magnesium alloy. Fatigue tests were also conducted at 150 °C. No significant variation in fatigue properties was noticed with respect to temperature over the range from 20 to 50 °C for both the humidity levels. Fatigue limits in the range 140–150 MPa were observed for relative humidity of 55%. Fatigue strength decreased significantly with increase in temperature to 150 °C. Further, a significant reduction in fatigue strength with a fatigue limit of ～110 MPa was observed with increase in relative humidity to 80% at 20 and 50 °C. The crack initiation and propagation remained transgranular under all test conditions. The fatigue fracture at low stress amplitudes and high relative humidity of 80% results from the formation of corrosion pits at the surface and their growth to a critical size for fatigue‐crack initiation and propagation. The observed reduction in fatigue strength at high humidity is ascribed to the effects associated with fatigue–environment interaction.     

Effect of load ratio on the deformation behaviour of fatigue crack tips

To investigate the change in the manner of plastic deformation at a fatigue crack tip under different loading conditions, the fresh surface area which is produced in one fatigue cycle at the crack tip was measured by an electrochemical method under various load ratios. The fresh surface area produced in each fatigue cycle is in proportion to the crack propagation rate in the Paris regime. This indicates that the crack tip geometry at K_max maintains a similar profile through the Paris regime. Furthermore, the fresh surface area is independent of load ratio at a given da/dN in the Paris regime. This suggests that the shape of the fatigue crack tip at K_max should be independent of load ratio at a given da/dN, and that the shape at K_min is also independent of load ratio, whereas the size of the deformed region at the crack tip is in proportion to da/dN.     

Effect of hydrogen charging on the torsional fatigue behaviour of 2024 aluminium

Torsional fatigue tests have been carried out on overaged and hydrogen charged specimens of 2024 aluminium in gaseous hydrogen and humid air. Hydrogen charging was found to significantly increase the number of fatigue crack initiation sites compared with uncharged specimens tested in argon, resulting in an overall reduction in fatigue life. Fatigue testing in gaseous hydrogen and humid air influenced both initiation and propagation of cracks. The fracture sites of both charged and uncharged specimens were similar, and the fracture mode was predominantly tensile in all specimens. However, specimens tested in humid air showed small amounts of longitudinal and transverse fracture, with ≈5% shear at low humidity and 10% at high humidity.     

Effect of zirconia addition on the fatigue behaviour of fine grained alumina

The fatigue behaviour of fine grained Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂ toughened Al₂O₃ (ZTA) compositions with 15 vol% ZrO₂ (3 mol% Y₂O₃ stabilized: 3Y-TZP) have been investigated by using three different techniques. Primarily 4-point bending load was employed to generate tension-tension fatigue data under both static and cyclic conditions. The results clearly showed that the materials were susceptible to both the static and cyclic fatigue and the time to failure under cyclic loading was considerably shorter than the equivalent static loads. The repeated indentations at the same spot with varying loads showed a typical fatigue behaviour. In addition, both the materials were subjected to the repeated impact cycles at varying subcritical loads simulating impact fatigue. In all the cases typical fatigue curves were obtained having a progressive endurance at subcritical loads having an endurance limit. The fatigue behaviour of Al₂O₃ was much improved by the addition of 15 vol% 3Y-TZP, having micro-plasticity contributing towards the cyclic fatigue phenomena of these materials.     

Effect of Mg on the ageing behaviour of Al-Si-Cu 319 type aluminium casting alloys

The present study was performed on primary A319.2 alloy to investigate the effect of magnesium addition as well as other melt treatment parameters such as Sr modification and grain refinement on the heat treatment behaviour of the alloy. The results show that increasing the Mg content in A319.2 up to 0.45% considerably enchances the alloy response to heat treatment in the T5 and T6 tempers, more particularly, the T6 temper. Modification of the high-Mg version of 319 alloy with Sr in amounts of 350 ppm results in a marked amount of porosity formation which counteracts the beneficial effect of the modification, leading to a noticeable decline in the alloy strength. Grain refining the Sr-modified (A319.2 + 0.45% Mg) alloy produces sounder castings and, hence, an identical ageing response to that offered by unmodified high-Mg alloys. The properties, however, are more consistent. Addition of Mg (0.45%) leads to the precipitation of coarse particles of Al₅Mg₈Si₆Cu₂. Modification with Sr tends to cause severe segregation of both Cu-containing intermetallics, i.e., Al₂Cu and Al₅Mg₈Si₆Cu₂ in areas away from the growing Al-Si eutectic regions. Thus, their dissolution rates are fairly sluggish upon solutionizing at 505 °C. Increasing the solutionizing temperature would lead to incipient melting of the phases and, hence, a catastrophic failure. Fracture of intermetallic phases in the interdendritic regions is mostly brittle, with the formation of microcracks at the Si, Cu, Fe-base intermetallics and aluminium interfaces. Fracture of the -aluminium is always ductile. Hardening during ageing occurs by cooperative precipitation of Al₂Cu and Mg₂Si phase particles.     

Effect of temperature and pressure on permeation,ageing and emissions of elastomers

This article details permeation tests that were performed on sheet samples of elastomers, over a wide range of pressures and temperatures, to study their effects on gas diffusion and solubility. It also explains how ageing is affected by gas permeation, and how the permeation test results can be used as input data for finite element analysis to aid the design of elastomeric components.     

Effect of shot peening on the fatigue and fracture behaviour of two titanium alloys

The fatigue and fracture behaviour of two titanium alloys, the near-alpha IMI-685 and alpha-beta IMI-318, were studied in the machined and polished (MP) as well as the machined, polished and shot (glass-bead) peened (MPS) conditions. Glass-bead peening reduced the room-temperature as well as the high-temperature (450°C) fatigue life of alloy IMI-685 at high stress amplitudes, _a, approaching the proof stress, _ps, of the material (LCF region). When the applied stress amplitude (0–770 MPa, HCF region) was comparable to the peen-induced peak longitudinal residual stress, _LP, i.e. (_LP/a)=0.92, an improvement in the room-temperature fatigue life of IMI-685 was observed. When the (_LP/a) ratio was less than this value, decreases in the fatigue life were seen. The room-temperature fatigue behaviour of IMI-318 at high stress amplitudes was similar to that of IMI-685. The decrease in the fatigue life of this alloy, at a stress amplitude (770 MPa) where improvement was observed for IMI-685, could be attributed to the higher relaxation of peen-induced residual stresses in IMI-318 compared with IMI-685. Glass-bead peening improved the hightemperature (450°C) fatigue life of IMI-685 at a low stress amplitude (465 MPa; (_a/PS)=0.87). The crack-initiation sites in the MP and the MPS conditions were at the surface for both the alloys. However, fracture in the surface layers of the alloys appeared more brittle in the peened (MPS) rather than in the unpeened (MP) condition.