Long-Term Creep Performance Assessment for Aluminum Airframe Alloys

Constant-stress creep curves recorded over stress ranges giving rupture lives up to several thousand hours at 373 to 463 K are analyzed for three commercial aluminum alloys, 2124, 2419 and 8090. The observed variations in curve shape are discussed with particular reference to the damage processes causing tertiary creep and fracture. These curve shape variations are then quantified using the θ methodology, predicting impressive creep strengths and damage tolerance levels for 2124 under long- term service conditions.