Short Fatigue Crack Growth Micromechanisms in a Cast Aluminium Piston Alloy

The short fatigue crack growth behaviour of a model cast aluminium piston alloy has been investigated. This has been achieved using a combination of fatigue crack replication methods at various intervals during fatigue testing and post-mortem analysis of fracture surfaces and crack profiles. Crack-microstructure interactions have been clearly delineated using a combination of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and three dimensional (3D) X-ray microtomography (SRCT). Results show that intermetallic particles play a significant role in determining the crack path and growth rate of short fatigue cracks. It is observed that the growth of short cracks is often retarded or even arrested at intermetallic particles and grain boundaries. Crack deflection at intermetallics and grain boundaries is also frequently observed. These results have been compared with the long crack growth behaviour of the alloy