Local deformation at micro‐notches and crack initiation in an intermetallic γ‐TiAl‐alloy

The relation is studied between crack initiation from micro-notches in a fully lamellar intermetallic γ-TiAl alloy and the local strain field. These micro-notches were introduced using femtosecond-laser ablation and had dimensions below the average colony size. The specimen under investigation was then subjected to fatigue loading. Continuous monitoring using a travelling optical microscope allowed detecting microcracks at an early stage. Prior to fatigue loading, a sustained load was applied and the local strain field was determined using digital image correlation. This was supplemented by a Finite Element analysis of the notches and their neighbourhood. It was found that a crack was initiated from a notch causing high normal strains in lamella direction, whereas no crack was initiated from notches with high shear strains.