Bao, RuiZhang, Xiang2011-11-132011-11-132010-07-01Rui Bao, Xiang Zhang, Fatigue crack growth behaviour and life prediction for 2324-T39 and 7050-T7451 aluminium alloys under truncated load spectra, International Journal of Fatigue, Volume 32, Issue 7, July 2010, Pages 1180-11890142-1123http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2009.12.010http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/4320This paper presents a study of crack growth behaviour in aluminium alloys 2324- T39 and 7050-T7451 subjected to flight-by-flight load spectra at different low- stress truncation levels. Crack branching was observed in the higher truncation levels for the 2324 and in all truncation levels for the 7050. Mode I crack growth life can be predicted for the 2324 alloy by the NASGRO equation and the Generalised Willenborg retardation model. However, quantitative prediction of the fatigue life of a significantly branched crack is still a problem. Material properties, test sample’s orientation and applied stress intensity factor range all play dominant roles in the fracture procesen-UKFatigue crack growthFatigue load spectraCrack branchingRetardationLife predictionArticle