Metallography of fatigue crack initiation in coarse-grained Astroloy at 20°C

Abstract

Fatigue crack initiation in coarse-grained Astroloy was studied by initiating cracks under bending loads. The specimen was not replicated in order to preserve any debris or extrusions associated with the cracks. Cracks were found to have initiated at pores and along slip lines. Debris and tonguelike extrusions were found coming from some cracks, but not all of them. Illustrations are given of the five different crack extrusion-related phenomena that were observed. It is concluded that the extrusion of material in the form of tonguelike or other debris may accompany the initiation of fatigue cracks, but that it is not a requisite part of the processes causing the crack.