Structural durability of magnesium alloys and components

The fatigue behaviour of the magnesium die cast alloys AZ91, AE42 and AM50 was investigated at constant amplitude and in variable amplitude tests. The ambient conditions of these tests varied between laboratory air at room temperature, at 125 °C and a permanent influence of NaCl‐solution at room temperature. More than 40 test series were analysed in a generalized way to determine standardized slopes of S‐N curves and mean stress sensitivity. The behaviour of the three alloys was investigated also in strain‐controlled cyclic tests at normal and elevated temperature. Based on this substantial data set several variants of methods following both the nominal‐stress concept and the local‐strain approach were applied to determine guidelines to improve the reliability of lifetime estimation of components made of magnesium. The corrosion fatigue behaviour of these magnesium alloys was extensively investigated under rotating bending to clarify the damaging influence of the corrosive load component. Under simultaneous action of corrosion and cyclic mechanical loading several influencing factors have to be considered which attain special importance during the testing of magnesium alloys.