Measured fatigue crack growth increments versus predictions for small cracks in 7XXX aluminium alloys

To examine the more subtle crack growth acceleration and retardation effects from individual load cycles in typical aircraft structural 7XXX aluminium alloys, this paper presents the results of quantitative fractography measurements of very small fatigue crack growth increments produced under the application of specially engineered spectra. One such spectrum that contained short segments of constant amplitude loads of various mean stresses, was designed to examine the extent of crack growth retardation, such as from closure, at a range of small crack lengths. Other spectrum effects were also explored through use of test spectra with constant amplitude cycles that were either separate to or embedded within small segments of variable amplitude loading. The local growth produced in each case was then measured and compared to predictions produced by two closure/retardation correction methods; based on wake and plastic zone related phenomena. The results showed that the prediction methods, although they made allowances for the presence of subtle retardations and accelerations, did not accurately predict these effects over the increments of growth examined.