Papers by Author: Hiroshi Noguchi

Abstract: The giga-cycle property of a newly developed Al alloy, which contains 0.5wt.% excess Mg solute compared to a standard age-hardened 6061 alloy (6061-T6), was investigated by using smooth specimens subjected to ultrasonic fatigue. The fatigue strength of the new alloy was higher than that of a normal 6061 alloy particularly at relatively low stress amplitude level. Several analyses (surface crack observation, fractography, FIB cross-sectioning, etc.) were also conducted to reveal the micro-mechanism of the observed strength properties. The following results were obtained: i) No fatigue limit was confirmed for both 6061 and new alloy. ii) Total life (N_f) of 6061 and new alloys was determined by a single fatigue crack initiated from a surface PSB crack. iii) Crack initiation resistance defined by N₂₅ (number of cycles to reach ρ = 25 mm^-2, where ρ is the PSB crack number density) for new alloy was higher than that of 6061. iv) The higher fatigue strength of new alloy was explained by the effect of excess Mg solute which increased the resistance against the formation of PSB cracks.

Abstract: The growth of a small crack controlling the high-cycle fatigue life of a precipitation-strengthened 6061-T6 aluminium alloy was critically investigated. As the applied stress lowered, the small crack was arrested for a long period (over 10⁶ cycles) at grain boundaries before regrowth, which resulted in a significantly slow growth process. The morphological and crystallographic details of the small crack were then analyzed with focused ion beam and transmission electron microscopy. It was revealed that the small crack was formed along fine persistent slip bands (PSBs) whose structure was fairly different from that reported for other metals. The concept of PSB-limited fatigue strength may be extended to include the present material type.

Abstract: Loading frequency effects on FCGR and fracture surface morphology were investigated on pre-strained low carbon steel in high FCGR range. Loading frequency effects showed the different trend between internal hydrogen and environmental hydrogen. The effects of combined condition hydrogen revealed similar tendency of environmental hydrogen.

Abstract: The aim of this study is firstly to investigate the applicability of a sharp notch with Focused Ion Beam (FIB) as a crack for fatigue limit evaluation. Secondly we investigate a condition in which artificial defects (drilled hole, FIB notch) can be used as a crack for fatigue limit evaluation. To achieve the aim, the growth behaviors and the non-propagating crack sizes of small fatigue cracks initiated from a FIB notch and a drilled hole are carefully compared with those of an annealed fatigue crack which imitates an ideally sharp crack. The results show that a FIB notch can be used as a crack for fatigue limit evaluation under some conditions. The results also show that the condition which controls the applicability of an artificial defect as an ideal crack for fatigue limit evaluation is strongly dependent on the relation between (i) the length of a non-propagating fatigue crack and (ii) the crack length when the small fatigue crack growth behaviors from an artificial defect and an ideal pre-crack become almost the same. It is found that the length of (ii) can be obtained by the analyses using the number of cycles from a certain crack length to failure.

Abstract: The atigue strength of Friction Stir Welding is affected by the structure and the welding defect size. The welding defect sizes have a scatter. Therfore, the effect of Friction Stir Welding condition on fatigue limit of welded noncombustible Mg alloy was investigated with the specimen which has a controlled defect size. As a result, the good correlation between the fatigue limit and the hardness of the welding area was clarified.

Abstract: In order to investigate the hydrogen effect on fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior in a few kinds of practical alloys; austenitic stainless steels (solution-treated metastable type 304 and stable type 316L), an aluminum alloy (age-hardened 6061) and a low carbon steel (annealed 0.13%C-Fe), FCG tests were carried out in hydrogen gas and in nitrogen gas. The FCG rates of these materials are enhanced by hydrogen, though the acceleration degrees are different. A crack grows across grains by slip-off in 316L stainless steel and in age-hardened 6061 aluminum alloys even in hydrogen. Faceted area increases in 304 stainless steel and in low carbon steel in hydrogen. In 304 stainless steel, the ratio of facets to the entire fracture surface was not so large. Thus, the FCG rate is not significantly affected through the facets in 304 stainless steel. In low carbon steel, facets were increased considerably, though a crack grows step by step or after a large number of loading cycles even along grain boundaries. Anyhow hydrogen enhances the FCG rate of these materials through the influence on slip behavior. Based on above-mentioned results, the effect of loading frequency on FCG rate in hydrogen of the age-hardened 6061 aluminum alloy was also investigated. The FCG rate increases as the testing frequency decreases, though the FCG rate in hydrogen shows the tendency to saturate.

Abstract: In order to investigate fatigue characteristics of vulcanized natural rubber (NR), fatigue tests are carried out under various stress ratios R (R = minimum stress / maximum stress). It was considered that the fatigue cracks were initiated from flaws in very early stage of total life. The fatigue damage process was almost the fatigue crack propagation process and it is independent of R. The crack growth rate was proportional to the crack length to about the first power, when the crack length was defined as the length of the direction perpendicular to the loading direction. Miner’s rule was examined to observe the fatigue crack behavior and checked by using two-step loading fatigue tests experimentally. It seems Miner’s rule has a possibility to predict fatigue lives.

Abstract: In order to investigate the effects of testing frequency on the fatigue crack growth rate of 6061-T6 aluminum alloy in hydrogen gas environment, fatigue crack growth tests were carried out on specimens with small artificial holes in 0.18 MPa hydrogen gas or in 0.18 MPa nitrogen gas. It takes long time to test at low testing frequency, so in this study an accelerated test method was proposed and fatigue tests were carried out using this method. The fatigue crack growth rate in hydrogen gas environment accelerates compared with in nitrogen gas environment. The crack growth rate at lower testing frequency tends to higher.

Abstract: Effect of mean stress on fatigue strength at N=107 of non-combustible magnesium alloy AMX602B(X=Ca) was investigated. Rotating bending fatigue test and tension-compression fatigue test were carried out on specimens with a small hole or crack. It was clarified that the fatigue strength at N=107 of the specimen with the small hole was about 30-150% higher than that of the specimen with the small crack within the range of σm=0~100MPa. This is the reason why the fatigue strength at N=107 of the specimen with the small hole can be not threshold condition for crack propagation but crack initiation. The fatigue strength at N=107 of the specimens with the small hole decreased within the range of σm=100~195MPa due to a static small crack initiating from the small hole at first loading. The effect of mean stress on fatigue strength at N=107 both oh the specimens with the small hole and crack could be estimated using modified Goodman diagram.

Abstract: In order to investigate the effect of hydrogen environment on fatigue crack growth characteristics of a low carbon steel JIS S10C, fatigue crack growth tests were conducted in a low pressure hydrogen gas environment. Fatigue crack growth rate in hygrogen gas is higher than that in nitrogen gas. It seems that a crack in the range of low growth rate prefers to propagate along the grain boundaries under hydrogen environment while in the range of high growth across the grains accompanied by brittle striation patterns or river patterns. It is important to clarify how hydrogen affects the crack growth behavior of different stages of crack growth.