Search NASASearch

Engineering topics

Ritter, D. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Ritter, D. L..

The influence of temperature on fatigue crack growth in a mill annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy.

To study the influence of temperature on the rate of fatigue crack growth in high strength metal alloys, constant load amplitude fatigue crack growth experiments were carried out using a .25-in.-thick mill annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy plate. The rates of fatigue crack growth were determined as a function of temperature, ranging from room temperature to about 290 C, and as a function of the crack tip stress intensity factor in a dehumidified high purity argon environment. Limited correlative experiments were carried out in distilled water, dehumidified oxygen and hydrogen, and in vacuum. The results indicate that the rate of fatigue crack growth is essentially independent of test temperature in this alloy, and is affected by residual moisture in very small concentrations. Companion fractographic examinations suggest that the mechanims for fatigue crack growth in the various environments are essentially the same.

Wei, R. P.

The influence of temperature on fatigue-crack growth in a mill annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy

To understand the influence temperature on the rate of fatigue crack growth in high strength metal alloys, constant load amplitude, fatigue crack growth experiments were carried out using a 1/4-inch-thick (6.35 mm) mill annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy plate as a model material. The rates of fatigue crack growth were determined as a function of temperature, ranging from room temperature to about 290 C (or, about 550 F/563K) and as a function of the crack tip stress intensity factor in a dehumidified high purity argon environment. Limited correlative experiments indicate that dehumidified oxygen and hydrogen have no effect on the rate of fatigue crack growth in this alloy, while distilled water increased the rate of crack growth slightly in the range tested. Companion fractographic examinations suggest that the mechanisms for fatigue crack growth in the various environments are essentially the same.

Wei, R. P.

Foldable patterns form construction blocks

Building blocks with interlocking tabs can be constructed from flat sheets of material using minimum of tools and equipment. Blocks can be used for storing and shipping supplies to remote areas, then filled with soil and stacked to form inhabitable structures which can be dismantled and reused.

Huber, W. C.

Fractographic observations of Ti-6Al-4V alloy fatigued in vacuum.

These observations were made as part of a study of the influence of temperature and chemical environment on fatigue-crack growth. The results obtained, along with additional fractographic results in other environments, suggest that the mechanism for fatigue-crack growth in the Ti-6Al-4V alloy is basically similar (striations are observed) for a wide range of environments. In addition to ?vacuum,' these environments include distilled water, ?dry' and ?wet' air, ?dry' hydrogen, and ?dry' and ?wet' argon.

Ritter, D. L.

The influence of temperature on fatigue-crack growth in a mill-annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy

To understand the influence of temperature on the rate of fatigue crack growth in high strength metal alloys, constant load amplitude fatigue crack growth experiments were carried out using a 1/4 inch thick (6.35 mm) mill-annealed Ti-6Al-4V alloy plate as a model material. The rates of fatigue crack growth were determined as a function of temperature, ranging from room temperature to about 290 C and as a function of the crack tip, stress intensity factor K, in dehumidified high purity argon environment. The dependence of the rate of fatigue crack growth on K appears to be separable into two regions. The transition correlates with changes in both the microscopic and macroscopic appearances of the fracture surfaces, and suggests a change in the mechanism and the influence of microstructure on fatigue crack growth.

Wei, R. P.