Effect of test frequency on fatigue crack growth rates of Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy at cryogenic temperature

In order to clarify the effect of test frequency on the fatigue crack growth rates (da/dN) of Ti-6A1-4V ELI alloy have been investigated at cryogenic temperature. The fatigue crack growth tests were conducted using the test frequencies of 5 and 20 Hz, respectively. At 4 K, the effects of the test frequencies on the fatigue crack growth rates of Ti-6A1-4V ELI alloy were not clear or significant. The fatigue crack growth rates in the low propagation rate region at 4 K were smaller than those at 293 K. On the other hand, those in the high propagation rate region at 4 K were bigger than those at 293 K. The former is considered that the crack closure level was higher as compared to that at 293 K and the latter is due to the difference values of the fracture toughness at 4 and 293 K, respectively. The fracture surfaces of compact tension (CT) specimens in the high propagation rate regions at each test temperature revealed the striations, and furthermore accompanied with the flute fracture surface at 4 K. On the other hand, those of CT specimens in the tow propagation rate region at 4 K were found facet-like fracture surfaces corresponding with almost the a-grain size.