The fatigue life of Al6061-T651 for various applied stress amplitudes in the unwelded and welded conditions was significantly lower in 3.5% NaCl simulated sea water solution, compared to that in air. The damage ratio increased with a decrease in the stress amplitude in the lower stress range. The reduction in fatigue life in NaCl solution is most likely due to the presence of pits which nucleate on second phase particles, slag inclusions or pores. Failure occurred in the weld metal as a result of the high pitting rate in simulated sea water.
Reference:
Mutombo, K and Du Toit, M. 2010. Corrosion fatigue performance in simulated sea water of aluminium 6061-T651 welded using ER4043 filler wire. Advanced Metals Initiative. Light Metals Conference, Misty Hill Conference Centre, 27 October 2010, pp 6
Mutombo, K., & Du Toit, M. (2010). Corrosion fatigue performance in simulated sea water of aluminium 6061-T651 welded using ER4043 filler wire. South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM). http://hdl.handle.net/10204/4611
Mutombo, K, and M Du Toit. "Corrosion fatigue performance in simulated sea water of aluminium 6061-T651 welded using ER4043 filler wire." (2010): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/4611
Mutombo K, Du Toit M, Corrosion fatigue performance in simulated sea water of aluminium 6061-T651 welded using ER4043 filler wire; South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM); 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/4611 .