Assessment of Damage and Fracture Behaviours in a Cast Aluminium Alloy via In Situ Synchrotron Microtomography

Abstract

High resolution phase contrast imaging technique has been applied to obtain clear crack images together with the detailed of microstructural features in a cast aluminum alloy. Crack opening/closure, crack extension and damage evolution in the vicinity of a crack-tip is observed three-dimensionally (3-D). 3-D image analysis is performed to evaluate void initiation and growth near the crack-tip. The information on physical displacement of each microstructural feature is provided for analyzing local crack driving forces at crack front. This technique has been identified to provide a unique possibility to quantitatively interpret the 3-D cracking behavior in bulk materials.