The influence of machining induced surface integrity and residual stress on the fatigue performance of Ti-6Al-4V following polycrystalline diamond and coated cemented carbide milling

Accurate fatigue life predictions of titanium alloy components requires an understanding of how the machining affected metallurgical and micro-mechanical subsurface condition influences fatigue crack nucleation and growth. This study investigates the influence of surface integrity features generated during carbide and high-speed polycrystalline diamond machining on the fatigue behaviour of coarse and fine-grained Ti-6Al-4V. Mechanically induced compressive residual stresses, promoted by higher feed rates and the larger cutting edge radii of carbide tools, have been demonstrated to provide an overriding enhancing effect on fatigue life due to crack initiation suppression and reducing the deleterious effects of microstructural deformation and surface imperfections.