A model has been created to allow the quantitative estimation of the fatigue crack growth rate in steels as a function of mechanical properties, test–specimen characteristics, stress–intensity range and test–frequency. With this design, the remarkable result is that the method which is based on steels, can be used without modification, and without any prior fatigue test, to estimate the crack g...

The solidification paths of the Al86.1Mn2.5Be11.4 and Al84Mn5.1Be10.9 alloys, melt spun, cast into a copper mould and controlled cooled (during DSC) were investigated by means of light-optical microscopy (LOM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) combined with thermogravimetry (TG) or simultaneous thermal analysis (STA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (...

Today’s interest in magnesium alloys for automotive applications is based on the combination of high strength properties and low density. For this reason magnesium alloys are very attractive as structural materials in all applications where weight savings are of great concern. In automotive applications weight reduction will improve the performance of a vehicle by reducing the rolling resistanc...

A physically-based numerical model is developed to predict the microstructural evolution and strengthening in Al-Cu-Mg alloys during isothermal treatments. The modelling of the formation kinetics of the precipitates is based on the Kampmann and Wagner model. The strengthening by the shearable Cu:Mg co-clusters is modelled on the basis of modulus strengthening mechanism and the strengthening by ...

Study of the corrosion behaviour of a magnetron sputtered Al–Cu/Al–Cu–Mg model alloy couple in sulphate solutions has been undertaken to gain insight into the galvanic coupling between the matrix and SAl2CuMg particles in the 2024 aluminium alloy (AA2024). Polarisation curves and local electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements (LEIS) were performed on the individual alloys and on the ...

The effects of alloy production method on microstructure and hence fatigue crack growth rate and fracture mechanism have been examined for a variety of fine-grained/high dispersoid Al-Li-Mg-Zr and Al-Li-Cu-Mg-Zr alloys. Microstructures have been assessed by scanning and transmission electron microcopy, together with electron back scattered diffraction pattern assessment. In these fine-grained/h...

Aluminium terbium alloys were prepared by simultaneous thermal evaporation resulting in a thin film library covering a 5 to 25 at.% Tb compositional spread. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction (XRD) proves all of the alloys to be amorphous. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements reveal the structural changes upon increase in Tb content with the formation of small, Tb-rich segregations right ...

Aluminium alloy composites have been extensively investigated for use in tribo-contact applications, however little detailed literature exists on the sub-surface microstructural evolution as a result of lubricated sliding wear. In this study two un-reinforced alloys (2124 & 5056) and identical alloy composites, reinforced with 15vol.% MoSi2 intermetallic particles were produced by a powder meta...