Fatigue Crack Growth of Al-Li Alloy 2091 in 3.5% NaCl Solution and at 130℃

A study has been made of the fatigue crackgrowth in an Al-Li alloy 2091 in 3.5%NaCl solu-tion and at an elevated temperature of 130℃.Theaging and environmental effects on the crackgrowth behaviour were examined.It is shown thatthe fatigue crack growth resistance decreases withaging.The specimen with underaged structuresshows the highest resistance to fatigue crack growthdue to more deflected crack paths and the resultinghigh crack closure levels.As compared to laborato-ry air,both 3.5% NaCl solution and elevated tem-perature of 130℃ cause an increase of near-thresh-old crack growth rates and a decrease of thresholdlevels.The elevated temperature is more effective.The effect of elevated temperature is mainly due tothe precipitate coarsening which results in anenhancement of slip irreversibility.Hydrogenembritttlement is supposed to be responsible for thedegradation of fatigue crack growth resistance in3.5%NaCl solution