THE FATIGUE CRACK PROPAGATION BEHAVIOR AND CRACK DEFLECTION OF A357 CASTING ALUMINUM ALLOYS

The fatigue crack propagation behavior of A357 casting aluminum alloys at stress ratios of 0.05 and 0.7 under T5 and T6 heat treatments were studied and crack propagation curves were modified by a crack deflection model. The research results show that the fatigue crack grows along the boundary of dendrite cells to cause a remarkable crack deflection. The fatigue crack propagation rate at r=0.05 is smaller than that at r=0.7 for both T5 and T6 heat treatments. The effect of heat treatment on the fatigue crack propagation rates cannot be seen. The fatigue crack propagation rates modified by the crack deflection model predict no change at r=0.7, while a remarkable increase of the fatigue crack propagation rates can be seen at r=0.05. It is more reasonable and accurate to use the effective stress intensity factors for Mode I and II to describe the fatigue crack propagation rates when a crack deflection occurs.