The influences of precrack orientations in welded joint of Ti–6Al–4V on fatigue crack growth

Ti–6Al–4V lamella microstructure obtained by β annealing, which had slow fatigue crack propagation rate and high propagation resistance, was used as base metal and welded by tungsten-inert-gas welding (TIG). Three kinds of orientations were designed to study the influences of precrack orientations and locations on fatigue crack growth rate in as-weld welded joints. In comparison, the classical total-life fatigue performances of the joints were also studied. The results showed that, no matter the precrack was initiated in the center of the weld, near the fusion-line or in HAZ, the fatigue crack propagation rates in the initial stage were all slower than that of the base metal. The fatigue crack in the central region of the weld seam propagated by striation mechanism in the initial propagation stage, and the weld metal exhibited lower fatigue crack propagation rate and higher threshold stress intensity than the base metal and the other joint specimens.