Fractographic Analysis of Initiation and Growth of Fatigue Cracks at Rivet Holes

A series of fatigue tests were performed on riveted panels of clad 2024-T3 without epoxy bonds. Fatigue crack initiation occurred at the apex of the rivet hole chamfers. Transgranular fatigue crack growth by ductile striation formation occurred through the sheet. The fracture features at low, medium and high growth rates were examined with the SEM. Microscopic crack propagation rates as measured by fatigue striation spacings correlate with macroscopic crack growth rates observed. The fatigue crack growth rate is fairly constant over a length of 6 mm (0.25 in.) from the edge of the rivet hole, due to the fact that the stress intensity range is approximately constant in this region. Transition to fast fracture and unstable crack propagation is readily identified due to marked yielding of the cladding material.