This article describes the effects of cyclic fatigue properties on aluminum alloys. It provides a discussion on strain-control fatigue and the effects of two microstructural features on the strain life of aluminum alloys: shearable precipitates and precipitate-free zones. The article discusses various models of fatigue crack growth (FCG) and the effects of alloy microstructure and composition on FCG.

The separation of the fatigue process into crack initiation and propagation phases has been an important and useful advance in engineering. The combined approach of strain-control testing and the development fracture mechanics of fatigue crack growth rates is a key advance that allows better understanding and simulation of both crack nucleation and the subsequent crack growth mechanisms. This article reviews three basic types of fatigue properties: stress-life, strain life, and fracture mechanic crack growth.

This article summarizes the key mechanical characteristics of various types of stainless steel, including ferritic, austenitic, martensitic, precipitation hardening, and duplex steels. Particular emphasis is on fracture properties and corrosion fatigue. The article tabulates typical room-temperature mechanical properties and fatigue endurance limits of stainless steels. Stainless steels are susceptible to embrittlement during thermal treatment or elevated-temperature service. The article discusses embrittlement in terms of sensitization, 475 deg C embrittlement, and sigma-phase embrittlement. It also describes the effect of environment on fatigue crack growth rate.