Fracture toughness in a rolled AZ31 magnesium alloy

The effect of texture on fracture toughness was investigated for a wrought AZ31 magnesium alloy, which was a commercial rolled plate having strong basal texture. The value of plane-strain fracture toughness, KIC = 17.6–20.7 MPam1/2, was obtained from the stretched zone (SZ) analysis. The value of KIC varied with the distribution of basal texture; the sample having a pre-crack normal to rolled direction was the highest value of KIC in all present samples. The crack-tip having parallel to the rolled direction was easily able to propagate and/or proceed with applied load.