The effect of sheet edge working on the fatigue life under flight-simulation loading

Fatigue tests under flight-simulation loading have been performed on unnotched Alclad 2024-T3, anodised 2.0 mm thick sheet specimens, manufactured according to several machine-shop processes applied in the air craft industry. From the results it appears that milling is preferable to stamping. Rounding off the edges is also advantageous. The...

The significance of cladding for fatigue of aluminium alloys in aircraft structures

Flight-simulation tests were carried out on sheet specimens notched "by an open hole (Kt = 2.66). The material was 2024-T3 in three conditions; Alclad, bare and chemically milled. The crack initiation period and the crack propagation period were considerably shorter for the Alclad material. The significance of the cladding, both for constant...