The effect of pitting on the bending fatigue performance of high-strength aluminum alloy

The effect of pitting on the bending fatigue performance of high-strength aluminum alloy has been investigated by conducting a series of rotary bending fatigue tests at 95 Hz. From pitting corrosion studies, it was observed that coarse constituent particles play the main role in the pitting process. The results obtained from fatigue tests revealed that the fatigue strength, based on a fatigue life of 107 cycles, was dramatically reduced by the presence of pitting. The reduction in fatigue life depended on the severity of pitting; an approximately 60% decrease in fatigue strength was obtained.