Crack growth analysis of room temperature rolled (RTR) 6351 Al alloys by XFEM

Abstract

In this paper, the crack growth simulations are performed using extended finite element method (XFEM) on bulk, 40% and 70% room temperature rolled (RTR) 6351 Al-alloy. The properties obtained through experimentation are used for crack growth analysis. The fracture energy obtained by Charpy impact test is used as crack growth criterion for elasto-plastic crack growth simulations. The micro-structural characterisation of bulk and RTR Al-alloy is examined through optical microscope. After 40% and 70% thickness reductions, the decrease in grain size of the alloy is observed through optical micrographs. An improvement in mechanical properties has been observed for RTR samples through tensile and Charpy impact testing. The goal of this paper is to compare the fracture behaviour of as received and RTR 6351 Al alloy because it has been observed that even high strength materials may fail when loaded below their normal strength because of presence of cracks.