AFM Observation of Fatigue Crack Growth Deflection and Branching Behavior in α-Brass

Abstract

Fatigue crack growth test under constant amplitude loading was carried out on α-brass. Successive observation of small fatigue crack growth behavior was performed by means of an atomic force microscope (AFM) equipped with small in-plane bending fatigue testing machine. Crack deflection and crack branching were observed frequently. They were resulted from the constraint of slip deformation due to strain hardening. Those intervals were found to be affected by the difference of mobility between slip systems and cross slip.