Effect of actual and accelerated ageing on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of a 2024-T351 aluminium alloy

M. Prudhomme (1, 2) , F. Billy (2) , Joel Alexis (3) , G. Benoit (4) , F. Hamon (4) , C. Larignon (1) , G. Odemer (1) , C. Blanc (1) , Gilbert Hénaff (4)

1 CIRIMAT - Centre interuniversitaire de recherche et d'ingenierie des matériaux
2 PPrime [Poitiers] - Institut Pprime [UPR 3346]
3 LGP - Laboratoire Génie de Production
4 ENDO - ENDOmmagement et durabilité [Institut Pprime]

This paper presents an investigation on the effects of ageing on the microstructure and the corresponding physical and mechanical properties of a 2024 aluminium alloy used in a civil transport aircraft wing structure in order to assess the residual resistance of the end of a service life. More precisely, heat treatments are applied in order to simulate thermal ageing actually endured by the structure during service. The results of characterisation of microstructural, physical and mechanical properties are compared not only to the data obtained on a pristine alloy, but also to the results obtained on coupons of a similar alloy coming from the teardown of an A320 aircraft using the same experimental procedure. The main findings are that, during a service life, no significant modification in fatigue resistance is noticed despite of changes in the precipitation structure.

Mots clés: Tear down; Ageing; Aluminium alloy; Microstructure; Fatigue

Domaines: Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]; Matériaux; Acoustique [physics.class-ph]; Automatique / Robotique; Electromagnétisme; Milieux fluides et réactifs; Energie électrique; Polymères; Acoustique [physics.class-ph]; Biomécanique [physics.med-ph]; Matériaux et structures en mécanique [physics.class-ph]; Thermique [physics.class-ph]; Vibrations [physics.class-ph]; Physique mathématique [math-ph]; Physique Quantique [quant-ph]

M. Prudhomme, F. Billy, Joel Alexis, G. Benoit, F. Hamon, et al.. Effect of actual and accelerated ageing on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of a 2024-T351 aluminium alloy. International Journal of Fatigue, 2018, 107, pp.60-71. ⟨10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2017.10.015⟩. ⟨hal-02294471⟩