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Research project: High strength aluminium alloys for aerospace applications

Currently Active:: Yes

Due to their low density and continued improvements in mechanical properties, aluminium alloys have continued to be a key material for aerospace applications. Research at Southampton on these alloys has been led by Profs. Marco J Starink and Ian Sinclair through a series of projects.

Project Overview

Aluminium alloys of the 7xxx (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu), 2x9x (Al-Li), 2xxx (Al-Cu-Mg) and 6xxx classes of alloys are used extensively in aircraft. In collaboration with Airbus, Alcan, Alcoa, Dunlop Aerospace, Cabot Engineering and QinetiQ, these alloys have been studied in a series of projects. The work in Southampton has focussed on microstructure-strength relations, strength modelling, embrittlement, quench sensitivity, fatigue and toughness analysis, encompassing all of the major aerospace Al alloy systems. Also welds have been analysed.

Synchrotron tomography images showing initiation of cracks ahead of a crack tip in a T6 Al-6156 aerospace alloy under monotonically increasing load. Arrows indicate main loading direction. Figures a and b represent the same section; in (b) the grain boundaries are revealed by Ga wetting.

Publications

Articles

Book Chapter

Starink, M. J. , Wang, S. C. , & Sinclair, I. (2005). A model for local proof strength of 2xxx welds . In K. J. Jata, M. W. Mahoney, & R. S. Mishra (Eds.), Friction stir welding and processing III (pp. 223-243). The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.

Conferences

Zhang, Y., Rometsch, P. , Starink, M. J. , Milkereit, B., Pelliccia, D., & Kirby, N. (2016). Quantitative analysis of quench sensitivity of 7xxx alloys by using small angle X-ray scattering . Paper presented at The 15th International Conference on Aluminum Alloys (ICAA15), China.
Morgeneyer, T. F., Besson, J., Proudhon, H. , Starink, M. J. , & Sinclair, I. (2009). Experimental and computational analysis of toughness anisotropy in an AA2139 Al-alloy for aerospace applications . In 12th International Conference on Fracture 2009 (ICF-12) (pp. 4610-4619). Ottawa, Canada: International Conference on Fracture, NRCC, Ottawa.
Starink, M. J. (2008). Analytical model for predicting strength of Al alloys: unified multi-mechanistic description applied to friction stir processed, welded, cold rolled and age hardened alloys . In Aluminium Alloys (pp. 1361-1367). Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH.
Morgeneyer, T. F. , Sinclair, I. , Besson, J. , & Starink, M. J. (2008). Direct observation and analysis of failure initiation and crack progression in tear toughness of two Al sheet alloys . In Aluminium Alloys (pp. 1504-1510). Weinheim, Germany: Wiley-VCH.
Rometsch, P. A. , Wang, S. C. , Harriss, A., Gregson, P. J. , & Starink, M. J. (2002). The effect of homogenizing on the quench sensitivity of 6082 . In P. J. Gregson, & S. Harriss (Eds.), Aluminium Alloys 2002: Their Physical and Mechanical Properties (pp. 655-660). (Materials Science Forum; No. 396-402). Switzerland: Trans Tech.
Li, X. , & Starink, M. J. (2000). Analysis of precipitation and dissolution in overaged 7xxx aluminium alloys using DSC . In E. A. Starke, Jr., T. H. Sanders, Jr., & W. A. Cassada (Eds.), Aluminium Alloys - Their Physical and Mechanical Properties (pp. 1071-1076). (Materials Science Forum; No. 331-337). Switzerland: Trans Tech.

Theses

Staff

Marco J Starink (Emeritus Professor)

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