High Temperature Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior of Ti-6Al-4V

Experimental evaluation of high temperature, Fatigue Crack Growth Rate (FCGR) data for Ti-6A1-4V, a titanium alloy, is presented. The FCGR data were measured at room temperature, 175, 230, 290 and 345°C using the Direct Current Potential Difference (DCPD) technique. Compact Tension (CT) specimens were used in the program and crack growth rates (da/dN) vs. Mode I stress intensity factor ranges (ΔΚ) were plotted as a function of temperature. A temperature rise from 175 to 345°C did not cause a substantial increase in crack growth rates within the Stage II region where a linear relationship describes the behavior. Fonnation of secondary cracks, observed at higher temperatures, may have slowed the crack propagation as observed in the fractography