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Investigation of the Fatigue Behaviour of the Structural Magnesium Alloy AZ31

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Engineering Against Fracture

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Abstract

The fatigue behaviour of wrought magnesium alloy AZ31 has been evaluated experimentally under constant amplitude fatigue tests for both parent and pre-corroded specimens. The S-N curve of the parent material exhibits a very smooth transition from low to high cycle fatigue regime indicating a strong stress sensitivity. Crack initiation occurs already at early stage of the fatigue damage accumulation process. A transgranular initiation fracture is observed followed by an intergranular mode of propagation. The presence of pitting due to corrosion exposure facilitates essentially the onset of fatigue cracks and, hence, reduces the fatigue life of the corroded specimens appreciably. The effect of existing corrosion pits on the fatigue life increases with decreasing fatigue stress amplitude. Fractographic analysis revealed twin marks in the initiation area of the pre-corroded material, while the fast fracture area is characterized as quasi-cleavage.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Technology & Strength of Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras, Rion, Greece

    Spiros G. Pantelakis, Apostolos N. Chamos & Vasilis Spiliadis

Authors
  1. Spiros G. Pantelakis
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  2. Apostolos N. Chamos
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  3. Vasilis Spiliadis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Spiros G. Pantelakis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Mechanical Engineering & Aeronautics, University of Patras, 265 00, Patras, Greece

    Spiros Pantelakis  & Chris Rodopoulos  & 

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Pantelakis, S.G., Chamos, A.N., Spiliadis, V. (2009). Investigation of the Fatigue Behaviour of the Structural Magnesium Alloy AZ31. In: Pantelakis, S., Rodopoulos, C. (eds) Engineering Against Fracture. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9402-6_10

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