Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior of Ti-4.5Al-3V-2Fe-2Mo Laser Welds

Abstract

Fatigue crack growth tests of Ti-4.5Al-3V-2Fe-2Mo (SP-700) laser welds after various postweld heat treatments (PWHTs) were investigated. The welds and the mill-annealed base metal had similar fatigue crack growth rates (FCGRs) at a stress ratio (R) of 0.1. After increasing the stress ratio to 0.5, the peak-aged (482 °C) weld exhibited higher FCGRs due to increased notch brittleness of the material. The tough microstructure as well as tortuous crack path of the overaged (704 °C) weld could account for the reduced FCGRs, particularly at a higher R. The fatigue fracture appearance of the welds varied from transgranular to intergranular failures, depending on the stress intensity factor ranges and PWHTs. Experimental results also demonstrated that the 704 °C-aged weld with coarsened α + β structures had better impact toughness than the base metal with banded structures.