The Influence of Cryogenic Conditions on the Process of AA2519 Aluminum Alloy Cracking.

This study presents the results of tests involving determining quantities used to describe fracture toughness of a heat-treated AA2519 aluminum alloy applied in, among other things, constructing American military amphibians. These quantities were determined using the J-R curve method for two temperature values, 293 K and 77 K. The low temperature was provided by putting the tested specimen into a liquid nitrogen bath and keeping it there throughout the experiment. Based on the tests results, cryogenic conditions cause an increase in the maximum experimental value of the J-JQ integral, from 66.3 to 87.3 kJ/m2 Moreover, an analysis of the fatigue fracture microstructure revealed differences between specimens tested in ambient temperature and those tested in cryogenic temperature.