Abstract
In this study, a Monte Carlo method (MCM) was applied on the fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) curves to evaluate a probabilistic assessment for the welded longitudinal Al 6013-T4 aluminum alloy under various post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) conditions. The welded CT specimens were manufactured by a tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, and the fatigue crack growth (FCG) tests were conducted by following ASTM E647. Before conducting the FCG test, the PWHT conditions were applied to the welded CT specimens under three different aging times of 6 h, 18 h, and 24 h at 175 C. The FCGR curves were generated from the FCG data and plotted on the da/dN versus Δk curves. The constants C and m were determined by drawing the fitting line on the FCGR curves. A sizeable random number was generated from the obtained constants by MCM. By plotting these constants, the probabilistic assessment of FCGR was determined on the da/dN versus Δk curves. The results showed that the confidence interval was appeared on the FCGR curves and limited by the upper and lower probabilistic lines. It was found that the lower and upper probabilistic lines were formed at 1 % and 90 %, respectively.
Highlights
For particular aluminum alloy series, the 6xxx series is mostly used for the components in the aircraft due to their superior characteristics such as high mechanical and fatigue strength, good formability and weldability, and good corrosion resistance [1−3]
It has been reported that the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and tungsten inert gas (TIG) was the conventional welding methods used for joining
The fatigue crack growth (FCG) tests were conducted by following the ASTM E647 standard, and the compact tension (CT) specimens were initially heat-treated by solution heat-treated (t4) method
Summary
For particular aluminum alloy series, the 6xxx series is mostly used for the components in the aircraft due to their superior characteristics such as high mechanical and fatigue strength, good formability and weldability, and good corrosion resistance [1−3]. The welding process can be performed continuously regardless of the electrode usage for the limited length [4−5]. The problems such as melt through, distortion, etc., appears due to high heat input, especially for the aluminum with the particular thicknesses. An approach method is needed to construct an accurate FCGR prediction from limited data of the FCG test. The probabilistic assessment of FCGR for the welded longitudinal Al 6013-T4 aluminum alloy is investigated by a Monte Carlo method (MCM). The probabilistic assessment is plotted on the da/dN versus Δk curves, and the results are discussed
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