Thermo-acoustic fatigue characterization

The nondestructive detection of early fatigue damage states is of high importance for safety in aircraft, automobiles, railways, nuclear energy industries and chemical industries. Titanium alloys commonly used in aerospace for structures and engine components are subject to fatigue damage during service. In the current study fatigue damage progression in a titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) was investigated using thermo graphic detection of the heat dissipated during short-term mechanical loading. The initial rate of temperature increase induced by the short-term mechanical loading was used to indicate the current microstructural state and presence of prior fatigue damage. Two methods for thermal excitation were investigated (a) high amplitude mechanical loading and (b) small amplitude ultrasonic loading. A formula that describes the temperature enhancement due to heat generation during one loading cycle is derived from high amplitude loading data. A correlation between the temperature increase during short-term ultrasonic loading and accumulated fatigue cycles is used to suggest a methodology for in-field assessment of fatigue condition. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.