Low‐cycle fatigue characteristics and fracture behavior of the die‐forged 2014 aircraft wheel

Abstract

In order to provide a sufficient theoretical basis for the fatigue‐resistant design of the aircraft wheels, strain‐controlled low‐cycle fatigue (LCF) tests were carried out on specimens machined in the extrusion direction (ED) and transverse direction (TD) of die‐forged 2014 aluminum alloy wheels. Although the TD specimens have lower tensile strength and yield strength, the fatigue test results show that the TD specimens have superior fatigue life compared with the ED specimens at total strain amplitudes of 0.5–0.8%. This is predominantly caused by the coarse Al12(MnSi)2(FeCu) intermetallic particles close to the surface layer, which results in a relatively short crack initiation stage for the ED specimens. In contrast, TD specimens with finer and more uniform recrystallized grains exhibit more excellent resistance to fatigue crack initiation (FCI) and propagation (FCP). Moreover, the fatigue life of alloys could be accurately predicted via a Manson–Coffin–Basquin (MCB) model based on total strain.