Micromechanical aspects of fatigue in a MIG welded aluminium airframe alloy

Short crack fatigue behaviour of a metal inert gas (MIG) welded 2024-T351 aluminium alloy has been studied in terms of crack initiation and propagation, and the microstructural features of the weld. Extensive crack initiation was noted within the weld fusion zone. Relatively small interdentritic defects are seen to be more damaging (in initiating cracks) than the larger gas bubble defects that exist in this region. Cracks were also seen to initiate within the weld heat affected zone where tensile residual stresses were found to be high, however, rapid crack growth and coalescence within the fusion zone is seen to dominate failure. Multiple crack interactions are seen to have a significant effect on failure up to relatively large crack lengths (of the order of the fusion zone width), enhancing the variability in short crack growth. Secondary electron and back-scattered electron imaging, in association with electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) mapping, were carried out on failed samples to assess the associated microstructural interactions.