Effect of testing frequency on the corrosion fatigue of a squeeze-cast aluminum alloy

The corrosion fatigue crack propagation behavior of a squeeze-cast Al-Si-Mg-Cu aluminum alloy (AC8A-T6), which had been precracked in air, was investigated at testing frequencies of 0.1, 1, 5, and 10 Hz under a stress ratio (R) of 0.1. Compact-toughness specimens were precracked about 6 mm in air prior to the corrosion fatigue test in a 3 pct saline solution. At some near-threshold conditions, these cracks propagated faster than would be predicted by the mechanical driving force. This anomalous corrosion fatigue crack growth was affected by the initial stress-intensity-factor range (Delta K-i), the precracking conditions, and the testing frequency. The initial crack propagation rate was as much as one order of magnitude higher than the rate for the same conditions in air. This rapid rate was associated with preferential propagation along the interphase interface in the eutectic structure. It is believed that a chemical reaction at the crack tip and/or hydrogen-assisted cracking produced the phenomenon. Eventual retardation and complete arrest of crack growth after this initial rapid growth occurred within a short period at low Delta K values, when the testing frequency was low (0.1 and 1 Hz). This retardation was accompanied by corrosion product-induced crack closure and could be better explained by the contributory stress-intensity-factor range (Delta K-cont) than by the effective stress-intensity-factor range (Delta K-eff).