Fatigue and damage tolerance behaviour of corroded 2024 T351 aircraft aluminum alloy

The fatigue and damage tolerance behaviour of pre-corroded 2024 T351 aluminum alloy specimens has been investigated and compared to the behaviour of the uncorroded material. The experimental investigation was performed on specimens pre-corroded in exfoliation corrosion environment and included the derivation of S–N and fatigue crack growth curves as well as measurements of fracture toughness. The fatigue crack growth tests were performed for different stress ratios R. To obtain reference material behaviour all mechanical tests were repeated under the same conditions for uncorroded specimens. For the corroded material an appreciable decrease in fatigue resistance and damage tolerance was obtained. The results of the experimental investigation were discussed under the viewpoint of corrosion and corrosion-induced hydrogen embrittlement of the 2024 aluminum alloy. The need to account for the influence of pre-existing corrosion on the material’s properties in fatigue and damage tolerance analyses of components involving corroded areas was demonstrated.