X-Ray Computed Tomography of Fracture Paths in AA7075-T6 Sheet Torn at 200 °C

X-ray computed tomography (XRCT)X-Ray Computed Tomography was used to characterize fractureFracture paths in AA7075-T6 sheet subjected to ductile tearingTearing at a warm temperature. Tear tests were conducted at 200 °C, and a pulling rate of 64 mm/min until the crack tipTips was approximately half way through the specimen. Three-dimensional XRCT data sets were acquired near each crack tipTips to map the crack, nearby porosity, and intermetallicIntermetallics particles. The XRCT data were analyzed using modern software techniques to segment out each of the important features. The spatial relationships between these features and their anisometry suggest microstructural causes for the anisotropy of tearingTearing resistance measured at warm temperatures; tearingTearing resistance is lower along the sheet rolling direction than it is along the long transverse direction. These connections are discussed, and methodsMethod for improving tearingTearing resistance are proposed.