The role of multiscale strain localizations in fatigue of magnesium alloys

The reliable characterization of fatigue behavior and progressive damage of advanced alloys relies on the monitoring and quantification of parameters such as strain localizations as a result of both crystallographic deformation mechanisms and bulk response. To this aim, this article attempts to directly correlate microstructural strain at specific fatigue life to global strain as well as surface roughness in Magnesium alloys. Strain at the grain scale is calculated using Digital Image Correlation (DIC), while surface topography gradients are computed using roughness data at different stages of the fatigue life. The results are further correlated to Electron Back Scatter Diffraction (EBSD) measurements which reveal the profuse and spatially inhomogeneous nature of the crystallographic deformation mechanisms related to yielding and fatigue crack initiation. Emphasis is given on using multimodal NDE data to formulate first a description of the current state of the material subjected to fatigue loading and on identifying conditions that can probabilistically drive the affected by both local and global response, governing degradation process.