Predicting fatigue crack initiation from coupled microstructure and corrosion morphology effects

[Display omitted] •Experimental characterizations can be used to generate equivalent computer models.•Fatigue indicator parameters (FIPs) analyzed produce similar spatial fields.•FIPs can adequately predict the location of crack initiation in corroded materials.•The microstructure is vital in affecting the pit-to-crack transition.•Constituent particles play a secondary role in corrosion mediated crack initiation. The onset of fatigue crack initiation is driven by the microstructure and the corrosion morphology; however, these mechanisms are rarely studied synergistically. In this work, characterizations of the microstructural features and the corrosion morphology resulting from two different environmental exposures are instantiated into crystal plasticity models. Fatigue indicator parameters (FIPs) are calculated from the micromechanical fields to quantify failure. The FIPs compare favorably to predict the experimentally observed location of fatigue crack initiation. These results show the potential behind analyzing environmentally-assisted fatigue crack initiation from a multivariable perspective.