As-extruded AZ31B magnesium alloy fatigue crack propagation behavior

The fatigue crack propagation rate of as-extruded AZ31B magnesium alloy was studied. Compact tension [C(T)] of the notch direction parallel (T-L), vertical (L-T), and inclined at 45° to the extrusion direction was investigated. The experimental results indicate that the crack propagation direction is parallel to the extrusion direction for T-L and L-T specimens, whereas the specimen inclined at 45° has an angular deflection of 9° to 11° toward the extrusion direction. The T-L specimen has the fastest fatigue crack propagation rate, and the L-T specimen has the slowest rate, the fatigue crack propagation rate of the specimen inclined at 45° is between the two directions. The crack tip propagates by both transgranular and intergranular fractures. Fatigue fractures consist of cleavage plane or quasi-cleavage and are brittle fractures. The fatigue striation occurs for specimens inclined at 45° and its size is 3–15 μm.