Aluminum alloys also display high fatigue crack growth rate, as much as three times faster than in steel specimens when subjected to the same stress intensity (Czyryca et al 2006). Aluminum alloys are anodic to most other materials used in construction and therefore, susceptible to localized galvanic corrosion. They are also sensitive to stress corrosion cracking. Other concerns involve marine fouling since aluminum alloys cannot be coated with conventional Cu-based antifouling coatings. In summary, the . shipbuilding industry should address the greater adoption of aluminum alloys by focusing research and development work in the areas of design, fabrication, operation,.
