Impact of the hole surface integrity on the fatigue life of a 2024-T351
aluminium drilled part
Abstract
The influence of the hole surface integrity on the fatigue life of
2024-T351 aluminium drilled parts was investigated. Fatigue tests were
conducted on open-hole specimens and a large campaign was carried out to
characterize the hole surface integrity (roughness measurements,
hardness measurements, metallographic observations and residual stress
analysis). An innovative technique, the Hole Opening Comparative
Technique, was set up in order to analyse the residual stress state of
the parts. In this study, strain hardening of the hole subsurface seems
to be the main factor influencing the fatigue behaviour, associated with
a residual stress state of the part.