Creep and creep fracture of commercial aluminium alloys

Using standard power law equations, creep rate and creep life measurements at 373–463 K are analysed for a series of aluminium alloys, namely, 2419, 2124, 8090 and 7010. The seemingly complex behaviour patterns are easily rationalized through a modified power law expression, which incorporates the activation energy for lattice diffusion in the alloy matrices (145 kJ mol−1) and the value of the ultimate tensile stress at the creep temperature. By considering the changes in microstructure and creep curve shape as the test duration and temperature increase, all results are then interpreted straightforwardly in terms of the processes shown to govern strain accumulation and damage evolution. Moreover, the data rationalization procedures are also included in new relationships which superimpose the property sets onto sigmoidal ‘master curves’, allowing accurate prediction of the 100,000 h creep-rupture strengths of 2124 by extrapolation of creep lives determined from tests having a maximum duration of only around 1000 h.