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Christopher SzczepanskiPhone: (734) 647-9634
Email: chrisski@umich.eduRoom: 2026 Gerstacker C Advisor: J. Wayne Jones Chris is studying the role of microstructural variability on the fatigue lifetime variability of Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo, which is used in aerospace turbine applications engines. The fatigue behavior of this alloy is being characterized using ultrasonic fatigue instrumentation that operates at frequencies of 20 kHz. The microstructure of this material has been characterized with the goal of completely automating this process for improved repeatability. In addition to characterizing the general fatigue behavior of this alloy, crack growth rates are being characterized for cracks initiating from laser induced surface defects. The fatigue lifetime variability observed in this alloy can span a range on the order of years of usable lifetime. Thus, by understanding the source of this variability, it will be possible to predict the usable lifetime of an actual component given a certain microstructure. This work, which is sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, compliments a similar project at Air Force Research Laboratories which studies the fatigue lifetime variability of Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo at conventional frequencies of 20 Hz.
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