Corrosion–Fatigue Life Prediction for 2024-T62 Aluminum Alloy Using Damage Mechanics-Based Approach

Abstract

An approach based on the continuum damage mechanics was applied to predict corrosion–fatigue crack initiation life of 2024-T62 aluminum alloy. A fatigue test in air, a pre-corrosion–fatigue test, and a corrosion–fatigue test on smooth standard specimens were performed. The fatigue lives are strongly reduced by the corrosive environment of 5 wt.% NaCl continuous salt spray compared with non-corroded specimens. Damage evolution models for fatigue in air and pre-corrosion–fatigue of smooth specimens were established, which forms the basis for solving the corrosion–fatigue problem. Finally, the method of corrosion–fatigue life prediction was presented. The predictions comply with the experimental data.