Three-dimensional measurement of short fatigue cracks using scanning acoustic microscopy

Abstract

The three-dimensional crack growth of short fatigue cracks in Al–Li 8090 alloy has been examined using time resolved acoustic microscopy. Two sets of specimens were machined having different orientations of the elongated grains. Depending on the orientation of the pancake shaped grains with respect to the propagation direction of the cracks different growth rates were obtained. Furthermore, the influence of the microstructure (e.g. grain boundaries) on the crack path in the two sets of specimens could be determined.

MST/1838