The Effect of Surface Corrosion Damage on the Fatigue Life of Extruded Aluminum Alloy 6061-T6

Aluminum alloy 6061-T6 is a common engineering material used in aerospace, automotive, structural applications. Despite its wide use, little has been published about the effects of damage from surface corrosion on its fatigue life. An investigation was performed where 6061-T6 extrusions were exposed to a 3.5% NaCl solution at pH 2 for 2 days and 24 days. The length of time and pH were chosen in order to create distinct surface flaws. The effect of these flaws on the fatigue life was then investigated and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Weibull statistics. It was determined that samples corroded for both 2-days and 24-days exhibit fatigue lives that can be described using a 3-parameter Weibull distribution. The result of which was the determination of a threshold value for fatigue as well a general understanding of flaw geometry.

Grantor dc:publisher

UNF Digital Commons

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Weber, Matthew

• Thesis; University of North Florida; UNF; Dissertations; Academic -- UNF -- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering; Dissertations; Academic -- UNF -- Engineering; Corrosion; Fatigue; Aluminum Alloy 6061-T6
• Other Mechanical Engineering
• Structural Materials

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/524

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.unf.edu:etd-1553