Influence of constituents on the ductile fracture of Al–Cu–Mg alloys: Modulated by the aging treatment

Two different solution treatments and following aging treatment with a series of aging time were respectively applied to Al–Cu–Mg alloys to investigate the coupling effect of constituents and precipitates on the ductile fracture of the heat-treatable aluminum alloys. Ductility and fracture toughness were measured and their dependence on the constituents was clearly shown to be controllable by aging treatment. A multiscale fracture model was used to quantitatively explain the aging-modulated influence of constituents on ductile fracture.