NEAR-THRESHOLD FATIGUE CRACK-GROWTH IN COPPER AND ALPHA-BRASS - GRAIN-SIZE AND ENVIRONMENTAL-EFFECTS

The fatigue propagation rates and fatigue threshold (ΔKth) values were studied (R=0.1 and frquency =20 Hz) on copper and 70-30 α-brass of two different grain sizes in laboratory air and dry argon. With decreasing grain size, the threshold increased in copper, while it decreased in α-brass. These results suggest that in copper, crack tip plasticity considerations were more important in determining the threshold values than crack closure effects. Dry argon increased ΔKth slightly in copper and more significantly in α-brass. A transition from completely transgranular to partially intergranular and back to completely transgranular cracking was observed with decreasing crack growth rates in both materials and environments. The growth rates for which intergranular cracking was obtained were consistent with a hydrogen embrittlement mechanism associated with adsorption of water molecules and dislocation transport of hydrogen.