The growth behavior of surface fatigue crack of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy was investgated under constant amplitude loading and also compared with the through-thickness crack growth behavoir.
Surface fatigue crack growth rates are well described by the effective stress intensity factor range accounting for crack closure. Surface fatigue crack growth rates in terms of the effective stress intensity range, are slower compared with through-thickness cracks. The crack opening ratio is higher in surface cracks than in through-thickness cracks for all the values of stress ratio tested.
A computer software was developed for predicting the shape change of surface fatigue crack growth.
