EFFECT OF NOTCH ROOT RADIUS ON FRACTURE-TOUGHNESS OF AN 8090 ALUMINUM - LITHIUM ALLOY

There was no effect of orientation (L-T or T-L) on the variation of apparent fracture toughness with a notch root radius in 8090 type AlLi alloys. The fracture toughness was independent of the notch root radius below a critical notch root radius of approximately 140 μm and increased linearly with the square root of notch root radius for ρ{variant} greater than 140 μm, for both the test directions. The fracture process in such alloys was strain controlled. © 1991.