Influence of Pore Size and Crystallography on the Small Crack HCF Behavior of an A357-T6 Cast Aluminum Alloy

Abstract

The high-cycle fatigue, small crack propagation behavior of an A357-T6 cast aluminum alloy is investigated. Laboratory X-ray micro-computed tomography \((\mu {\text {CT}})\) is used to assist in the manufacturing of two flat fatigue specimens containing subsurface shrinkage pores of different sizes (Pore 1 \(\sqrt{A} = 522\,\mu {\text {m}}\) against Pore 2 \(\sqrt{A} = 280\,\mu {\text {m}}\)). Surface crack monitoring is performed by means of optical microscopy and the cracked specimens are analyzed via scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction techniques. The subsurface pores tend to induce intergranular crack nucleation, principally when the grain boundaries are oriented perpendicular to the loading direction. Pore 1 induces a fatigue life reduction of 500.000 cycles when compared to Pore 2. The crystallography is able to influence small crack propagation by slightly decelerating the crack growth rates as well as by altering the crack path topography. Tailoring of the crystallography for improved fatigue resistance requires an investigation of the optimal largest defect to grain size ratio.