The accuracy of the numerical simulation in the prediction of cavitation in cryogenic fluids is of critical importance for the efficient design and performance of turbopumps in rocket propulsion systems. One of the main challenges remains the efficiency in modeling the physics, handling the multiscale properties and developing robust numerical methodologies. Such flows involve thermodynamic phase transition and cavitation bubbles smaller than the global flow structure. Cryogenic fluids are thermo-sensible, then thermal effects and strong variations in fluid properties can alter the cavity properties. The aim of this work is to address the challenge of efficiently modeling cavitating flows when using water and cryogenic fluids. Because of the complexity of the phenomenon, we focus on improving accuracy of the numerical simulation and on proposing some approaches for a strong coupling between numerics and experiments. We first discuss how to simulate cavitation by means of a mixture model. We specifically address two challenges. The first one is associated with the prediction of thermal effect during the phase transition, requiring the solution of the energy conservation equation. The second challenge is associated to the prediction of the number of bubbles, by considering a transport equations for the bubble density. This study is applied to the numerical simulation of a cavitating flow in a Venturi configuration. We observe an improved estimation of temperature and pressure profiles by using the energy equation and the nucleation model. Secondly, we focus on bubble dynamics. Several forms of Rayleigh-Plesset (RP) equations are solved in order to estimate the temperature and pressure during the collapse of the bubble. We observe that, for high Mach number flows, RP modified with a compressible term can predict the bubble behavior more accurately than the classical form of RP. It is necessary to use a complex equation of state for non-condensable gas (van der Waals) in order to have an accurate estimation of the bubble temperature during the collapse phase. We first apply this approach to the water treatment with cavitation, by proposing a model for the estimation of radicals developed during the collapse of the bubble. Secondly, this equation is modified by adding a term of convective heat transfer at the interface between liquid and bubble and it is coupled with a bubbly flow model in order to assess the prediction of thermal effect. We perform a parametric study by considering several values and models for the convective heat transfer coefficient, hb, and we compare temperature and pressure profiles with respect to the experimental data. We observe the importance of the choice of hb for correctly predicting the temperature drop in the cavitating region and we assess the most efficient models. In addition, we perform an experimental study on nitrogen cavitating flows in order to validate numerical prediction of thermal effect, and in order to assess the fundamental characteristics of the nucleation and the transient growth process of the bubble.

Cold, trapped atomic ions have enabled the investigation of fundamental physics and generated a rich field of applications. Foremost among these is quantum computation which has recently driven the development of the sophisticated, scalable surface-electrode trap. Despite the many advantages of surface-electrode traps, the typically smaller ion-electrode distance, d, in these traps results in an increased ion heating rate that is proportional to d^(-4) and a decreased trap well-depth that is proportional to d^(-2). These shortcomings can be simultaneously addressed by installing the trap into a cryogenic environment. With this in mind, a closed-cycle, cryogenic ion trapping apparatus that maintains excellent vacuum, is highly modular, has increased optical access, and uses a simple vibration isolation system has been developed. Single ions are trapped and used to characterize system properties such as the motion of the vibration isolation stage. In order to compare this system to a similar room temperature apparatus, the ion trapping lifetime and heating rate are determined. A single ion also serves as a sensitive electric field probe that is used to measure and compensate stray electric fields across the trap. Due to the long dark ion lifetimes in this system, it is well-suited to probing the stability of small, linear ion crystals. Linear ion crystals of arbitrary length are built in an automated fashion using transport waveforms and the scaling of dark lifetime with ion number for N <= 6 is investigated. These data are then used to consider the relevance of various loss channels.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aerospace industry actively pursues innovation, especially in materials and their use in new applications, to improve their aircraft as well as their competitive position. Ti-6Al-4V has been available now for more than 50 years. Yet, in the new generation of aircraft using structural composites, a dramatic increase in the proportion of Ti-6Al-4V will be seen along with emerging application in automotive and chemical industries. This material possesses superior material properties compared to conventional materials such as steel and aluminium, although it is at the expense of machinability. Researchers are therefore actively searching for improved cutting technologies to improve production rates for Ti-6Al-4V. At higher cutting speeds than the industry norm of 60 - 90 m/min, machining becomes a challenge, resulting in low productivity on titanium parts. The limiting factor in the machining of Ti-6Al-4V is high tool temperatures of the order of 1000oC, caused by its resistance to absorb heat and good mechanical strength at elevated temperatures. The result is extreme temperatures that are concentrated on the cutting edge of the tool. The challenge to improve the tool life is therefore focused on removing heat from the insert. Liquid nitrogen was identified as a good candidate as coolant with the additional advantage of being environmentally friendly. The research presented investigates the use of a gravity feed enclosed liquid nitrogen cooling system to improve the tool life of the cutting inserts. The liquid nitrogen is contained on the insert rake face by means of a tool cap. To improve the effectiveness of the cooling method, a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) insert was used. This insert has a considerably higher thermal conductivity that aids in cooling the cutting edge. Tungsten carbide inserts are used for benchmark testing. The round tungsten carbide inserts with conventional cooling performed exceptionally well for machining titanium compared to square inserts, yielding exceptional tool life improvements while significantly increasing the material removal rate. Positive results were recorded with the liquid nitrogen cooling system when used with the polycrystalline diamond cutting insert. A number of far reaching performance issues are identified relating to the design of the tool cap that hindered clear scientific outputs. From a research perspective, the project makes a contribution to the knowledge base in this field. Additionally a new approach in cooling was investigated, resulting in clear indications of design changes required. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die lugvaart industrie streef aktief innovasie na, veral op die gebied van materiale en hul gebruike, om hul vliegtuie en kompeterende posisie in die mark te verbeter. Ti-6Al-4V is al vir meer as 50 jaar beskikbaar. ‘n Drastiese verhoging in die aanvraag na Ti-6Al-4V deur die lugvaart, motor en chemiese industrieë word verwag wanneer die volgende geslag vliegtuie wat koolstofvesel as strukturele materiaal begin gebruik, in produksie gaan. Die materiaal het beter materiaaleienskappe as konvensionele materiale soos staal en aluminium, maar dit kom egter teen die prys van masjieneerbaarheid. Ti-6Al-4V se masjienering bo die industrie norm van 60 – 90m/min is ‘n groot uitdaging. Navorsers soek daarom deurentyd na verbeterde sny tegnologieë om die produksie tempo van Ti-6Al-4V te verbeter. Die beperkende faktor vir Ti-6Al-4V masjienering is die temperatuur wat genereer word. Die weerstand van die materiaal om hitte te absorbeer en sy goeie meganiese eienskappe veroorsaak dat temperature in die beitel 1000oC bereik. Hierdie temperature word egter op die snykant van die beitel gekonsentreer. Die uitdaging is dus om hierdie temperature in die beitel te beheer. Vloeibare stikstof is geïdentifiseer as ‘n goeie kandidaat vir verkoeling met die bykomende voordeel dat dit omgewingsvriendelik is. Die navorsing wat hier uiteengesit word, ondersoek die gebruik van ‘n geslote kamer beitelverkoelingstelsel wat deur gravitasie met vloeibare stikstof voorsien word om die beitel leeftyd te verbeter. Die oppervlak van die beitel word in hierdie konsep direk aan die vloeibare stikstof blootgestel. Om die effektiwiteit van die stelsel te verbeter word van PCD beitels gebruik gemaak. Die beitel se verbeterde hittegeleidingsvermoë help om die beitel se snykant koel te hou. Tungstenkarbied beitels word gebruik om ‘n standaard te stel vir eksperimentele analise. Die ronde tungstenkarbied beitels en konvensionele verkoeling het verstommend goed presteer vir Ti-6A-4V masjienering in vergelyking met vierkantige beitels. Die materiaalverwyderingstempo is aansienlik verhoog sonder om die beitel se leeftyd in te boet. Positiewe resultate is waargeneem met die vloeibare stikstof sisteem saam met die PCD beitels. ‘n Aantal verreikende uitdagings is geïdentifiseer wat suiwer wetenskaplike afleidings bemoeilik. Hierdie probleme kan almal aan die ontwerp van die toerusting toegeskryf word. Die werk lewer egter steeds ‘n bydrae tot die kennis in die veld. ‘n Bykomende benadering vir verkoeling is ondersoek wat duidelik ontwerp-veranderings aandui.

Une des meilleures sources d’énergie verte serait d’être capable de casser une molécule d’eau à partir du rayonnement visible fourni par le soleil, afin de générer du H$_2$. L’eau présente le don d’ubiquité sur terre puisqu’elle est présente, sous ses trois phases, dans les océans, la terre et l’atmosphère. Cependant, une énergie de 6.66 eV (VUV) est nécessaire pour rompre directement une des liaisons covalentes de l’eau. Dans ce travail, nous montrons qu’il est possible de dissocier l’eau si celle-ci est associée à un catalyseur photosensible de nature organique, dont les prototypes absorbent dans l’UV, comme la Pyridine (Py). Un récent travail théorique prédit que la Py peut jouer le rôle de ce photocatalyseur, suivant la réaction : Py-H$_2$O + h$\nu_1 \to$ Py*-H$_2$O $\to$ PyH$\bullet$ + OH$\bullet$Pour tester ce modèle théorique nous avons étudié le complexe Py-eau isolé dans un cluster moléculaire froid. Nous avons caractérisé la spectroscopie électronique du PyH$\bullet$ en phase gazeuse et nous avons mis en évidence cette réaction de photodissociation par irradiation UV de clusters Py-(H$_2$O)$_n$. Nous avons aussi testé ce système en matrices cryogéniques pour évaluer l’effet de la solvatation solide. La dernière étape du processus, la régénération du photocatalyseur par absorption d’un deuxième photon UV (PyH$\bullet$ + h$\nu \to$ Py + H$\bullet$) à été aussi prouvé. Il semblerait que seuls les radicaux PyH$\bullet$ chauds soient capables d’engendrer cette dernière réaction.A l’heure actuelle, nous explorons de nouveaux systèmes moléculaires prototypes susceptibles de conduire au même phénomène. / A major challenge to generate green energy from sunlight would be to split water which is a ubiquitous molecule to produce H$_2$. However VUV light (6.66 eV) is needed to dissociate the H-OH covalent bond. In this work we will show that it is possible to dissociate water via photo-sensitisation with UVC light, using a simple organic catalyst.Recently, ab-initio calculations predict that pyridine (Py) can act as a photo-catalyst to split water by absorption of a UV photon, following the reaction:Py-H$_2$O + h$\nu_1 \to$ Py*-H$_2$O $\to$ PyH$\bullet$ + OH$\bullet$ To test this prediction, we studied the Py-H$_2$O complex in isolated cold molecular cluster and the system trapped in cryogenic matrices. We characterized the electronic spectroscopy of the PyH$\bullet$ in the gas phase and we evidenced the reaction through UV excitation of Py-(H$_2$O) $_n$ clusters. We have evidenced that the reaction leads PyH$\bullet$ as photoproduct of the reaction. We also evidenced that the surrounding conditions play an important role in the reaction.We have demonstrated that the UV excitation of Py-water clusters leads to the formation of PyH$\bullet$, thus we have evidenced the water splitting reaction. The last step of the process, that is the regeneration of the catalyst by absorption of a second UV photon (PyH$\bullet$ + h$\nu \to$ Py + H$\bullet$) has been studied and it seems that only hot PyH$\bullet$ molecules are able to follow this channel. In the present, we are studying other aromatic molecules which are expected to lead the photochemical dissociation of water.

L’objectif de cette thèse est d’étudier l’initiation directe et la propagation d’une détonation dans un milieu cryogénique diphasique GH2-LOx dans le cadre général des moteurs à onde de détonation pour la propulsion spatiale. Un rappel des bases théoriques sur les processus d’atomisation d’un jet liquide, puis sur la détonation en phase gazeuse, et enfin sur la détonation dans un mélange diphasique, constituent le premier chapitre de la thèse. Le deuxième chapitre présente les dispositifs expérimentaux et les techniques utilisés pour mener à bien les expériences de caractérisation du jet diphasique et d’étude de la détonation. Le troisième chapitre est consacré à l’étude dans un tube en quartz de la granulométrie d’un jet diphasique GHe-LOx non réactif. Une cartographie est ainsi réalisée sur l’ensemble du tube, pour différents débits d’injection. Ces résultats sont corroborés par une étude théorique sur une goutte isolée et par une étude numérique sur le comportement du jet en champ proche de l’injecteur. Le quatrième chapitre présente les résultats de l’étude de la détonation dans un tube en acier d’un mélange réactif GH2-LOx. La détonation est étudiée en fonction de divers paramètres : énergie d’initiation stockée, emplacement du dispositif d’initiation par étincelle, richesse globale du mélange. La célérité et la pression de détonation, ainsi que la structure tridimensionnelle de la détonation, sont les principales informations recueillies pour l’étude du phénomène de détonation en mélange diphasique. Une étude théorique des caractéristiques de la détonation apporte des éclairages supplémentaires sur la détonation à très basse température (100 K). / Within the general framework of detonation engines for space propulsion purpose, this work aims to study direct initiation and propagation of detonation in a cryogenic twophase GH2-LO2 mixture. First chapter is constituted by theoretical basis and state of art on atomization processes in liquid jets, then on gas-phase detonation, and finally on two-phase detonation. Second chapter describes experimental set-up and associate techniques in order to carry out two-phase jet characterization and detonation study. Third chapter is dedicated to the study of droplet size distribution of non reactive two-phase GHe-LO2 jet in a quartz tube. Thus, a droplet size map is constituted through the whole tube, for different helium injection speeds. These results are compared with theoretical study dealing with vaporization and movement of a droplet and with numerical simulations on jet behavior close to the injector. Fourth chapter presents results of a detonation study of a reactive GH2-LO2 two-phase mixture in a semi-open tube. Detonation is studied as a function of following parameters: initiation energy, spark initiation device location along the tube, global equivalence ratio. Velocity, peak pressure and three-dimension structure detonation are the main data collected to study two-phase detonation phenomena. A theoretical study of detonation characteristics brings additional information on detonation at low temperature (100 K).

URhGe has garnered interest recently as one of the few known ferromagnetic superconductors. The superconductivity in this material appears to arise from magnetic fluctuations rather than phonons, and take a triplet form which is remarkably resistant to field. In this thesis, a number of measurements on the material are presented. Some probe the Fermiology, with strong evidence appearing for a model which as both light open sheets and heavy, small, closed pockets. The open sheets, associated with chains of real-space electron density running along the b axis, dominate the conductivity in most circumstances. Evidence for their existence arises from the general large and non-saturating magnetoresistance, and from the unusual observation of negative temperature coefficient of resistance at high fields. The closed pockets have provided a few Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations, but mostly they remain inferred from the high specific heat γ and their role in the magnetism. In order to better probe the superconductivity, a high precision low noise DC resistance measurement bridge was built using a SQUID. Along with conventional measurements, this provides evidence that the two pockets of superconductivity on the phase diagram are the same phase. The re-entrance an be understood simply as a result of magnetic field being a tuning parameter, but also suppressing bulk superconductivity through orbital limiting. The SQUID bridge allowed the detection of domain wall superconductivity linking up these two pockets. The SQUID bridge was also used to study the highly structured superconducting transition in BiPd. This material lacks inversion symmetry in its crystal structure, so is a good candidate for unusual forms of superconductivity. Here again non-bulk superconductivity is considered the most likely cause for the structure. Unusual and distinctive IV curves have been measured, and a simple model of inhomogeneous conductivity channels with different critical currents is proposed as an explanation.

L’objectif est d’améliorer la connaissance des écoulements de films minces se développant au sein des colonnes servant à distiller les gaz de l’air sous conditions cryogéniques. Ce travail porte sur la caractérisation expérimentale de l’épaisseur du film liquide dans des conditions hydrodynamiques proches de celles rencontrées dans l’industrie. Tout d’abord, ce travail a permis de déterminer les conditions opératoires permettant la réalisation d’écoulement en similitude hydrodynamique avec les écoulements cryogéniques mais à température et pression proches de l’ambiant. Ensuite, un dispositif expérimental a ensuite été développé afin de permettre la réalisation d’écoulement de film liquide avec et sans contre-courant gaz sur plan incliné. Une métrologie optique utilisant un procédé de fluorescence a été développée et calibrée afin de mesurer des épaisseurs de films minces inférieures à 2 mm. Pour finir, l’étude expérimentale a permis de caractériser l’écoulement du film mince par l’étude statistique de son épaisseur, l’étude des régimes d’ondes de surface ainsi que son aire interfaciale. / The aim of this study is to get a better knowledge of thin film flow inside column used to distil the gases of air under cryogenic conditions. Experimental characterisation of the liquid film thickness submitted to hydrodynamic conditions similar to those found in real processes is investigated in this work. First, operating conditions were defined that allow thin film flow in hydrodynamic similitude with cryogenic flows but under conditions close to standard temperature and pression. Then, an experimental setup was designed in order to realize liquid film flows down an inclined plate with and without counter-current air flow. An optical technique using fluorescence was built and calibrated in order to measure the thickness of liquid film up to 2 mm. Finally, thin liquid film flow characteristics were experimentally studied with special attention given to the statistical variation of film thickness, interfacial wave patterns and interfacial area.

Au cours des dernières décennies, l’observation du ciel dans les longueurs d’onde millimétriques a permis de faire grandement progresser notre compréhension de l’univers, notamment à travers l’étude du fond diffus cosmologique. Pour répondre aux besoins actuels des astronomes, nous proposons dans ce rapport un instrument intégré permettant de réaliser des mesures spectrales large-bande dans le domaine millimétrique. Celui-ci se base sur le concept de SWIFTS (Stationary-Wave Fourier-Transform Spectrometer :spectromètre de Fourier à ondes stationnaire), un instrument opérationnel aux longueurs d’onde visibles et infrarouges. Notre dispositif " SWIFTS millimétrique " utilise des détecteurs à inductance cinétique (KID pour Kinetic Inductance Detectors) comme détecteurs de lumière. Différents aspects de la conception du SWIFTS millimétrique sont abordés dans ce rapport. Le dimensionnement des éléments clés du dispositif est réalisé à l’aide de simulations électromagnétiques. Nous proposons aussi un procédé de fabrication en technologie silicium permettant le dépôt d’antennes sur membrane de nitrure de silicium SiN. Les premières caractérisations permettent de confirmer un fonctionnement adapté des détecteurs en configuration SWIFTS et démontre l’existence d’un couplage entre l’antenne et un des détecteurs aux longueurs d’onde millimétriques ce qui ouvre la voie à un futur démonstrateur. Parallèlement, la technologie développée pour le SWIFTS millimétrique a rendu possible la fabrication de KID sur membrane. L’intérêt est ici d’évaluer la membrane comme un moyen de réduire l’interaction entre les rayons cosmiques et le détecteur dans la perspective d’une utilisation des KID dans l’espace. Des mesures comparatives effectuées sur KID déposés sur membrane et sur substrat démontrent des taux d'événements identiques dans les deux cas. La membrane est donc inefficace pour l’application envisagée. Le temps de relaxation présente en revanche une dépendance avec la présence du substrat. / For the last decades, millimeter wavelength observations allowed a large improvement of our knowledge of the universe in particular with the study of the Cosmic Microwave Background. To meet today astronomers’ needs, we propose hereby an integrated instrument able to perform wide-band spectral measurements in the millimeter spectrum. It is based on the SWIFTS concept (Stationary-Wave Fourier-Transform Spectrometer) an instrument already demonstrated in the optical and infrared bands. Our device "the millimeterSWIFTS" makes use of Kinetic Inductance Detectors (KID) as light detectors. Multiples aspects of the millimeter SWIFTS development are presented in this report. Design of the key-parts of the device is done with the help of electromagnetic simulations. We also propose a process of fabrication allowing the deposition of an antenna on a silicon nitride membrane SiN. First measurements confirm an adapted behavior of the KID in a SWIFTS design and demonstrate a coupling between the antenna and one of the detectors in themillimeter waves. This opens the way to a future demonstrator. In parallel, the technology developed for the millimeter SWIFTS allowed the deposition of KID on membrane. Main goal here is to assess membranes as a mean to reduce the interaction between cosmic rays and the detector in the case of a space application. Comparative measurements performed on KID deposited on membrane and on substrate demonstrate the same rate of events in both cases. Thus, membrane is not an option for the desired application. However, relaxation time shows a dependency with the presence of substrate.

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / A more detailed and accurate study of the thermal phenomena involved in arc welding processes is of great importance for both simulation developers of metallurgical transformations and residual stresses generation and users in general, whom need to understand this phenomenology to take decisions. In terms of thermal phenomena, heat input and its derivatives (such as thermal efficiency and fusion efficiency are the most representative parameters in welding engineering. However, scientific and technical literatures are very divergent on heat input values. In addition, they do not discuss the actual heat flow inside the plate. Initial tests demonstrated that these inconsistencies are due to systematic and random errors that occur during heat input measurements. Thus, the major purpose of this work was to develop a methodological approach to determine the heat input due to a welding process, which would be more representative of the heat that actually diffuses inside the workpiece and free of the assessment method and parameter influence. Thus, this actual heat input could be generally used in calculations that require this welding parameter. As methodological base, a descriptive model of heat flow in the welding region was developed. Then, a methodology to determine a heat input value free of measurement errors (here called as net heat input) was proposed and applied to cryogenic calorimetry. This procedure was validated using several welding conditions. The results demonstrated the proper functioning of the proposed methodology, regardless the welding process and its variables. It is expected that, with the application of the net heat input values, the calculations and simulations involved in welding engineering turn into more robust, since the use of such imprecise parameter as thermal efficiency is dispensed. / O conhecimento mais detalhado e preciso dos fenômenos térmicos envolvidos no processo de soldagem é de grande importância, tanto para os que desenvolvem simulações de transformações metalúrgicas e geração de tensões térmicas, como para os usuários de forma geral, que precisam entender essa fenomenologia para tomar decisões. Em termos de fenômenos térmicos, os parâmetros mais representativos na engenharia de soldagem são o calor imposto e seus derivados (tais como rendimento térmico e rendimento de fusão). No entanto, as literaturas científica e técnica são muito divergentes quanto aos valores de calor imposto. Também não discutem o real fluxo de calor dentro da chapa. Testes iniciais demonstraram que estas inconsistências existem devido aos erros sistemáticos e aleatórios que ocorrem durante as medições do calor imposto. Assim, o objetivo maior deste trabalho foi desenvolver uma abordagem metodológica para determinação do calor imposto por um processo de soldagem, que seja mais representativo do calor que realmente difunde pela peça e isento da influência dos métodos e parâmetros de ensaio, de tal forma que possa ser usado genericamente em cálculos de soldagem que necessitem deste parâmetro. Para este fim, como base metodológica, foi desenvolvido um modelo descritivo de fluxo de calor na região de soldagem. Em seguida, foi proposta uma metodologia para determinação de um calor imposto isento dos erros de medição (chamado aqui de calor imposto líquido) aplicado à calorimetria criogênica. Esse procedimento foi validado para várias condições de soldagem. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram um adequado funcionamento da metodologia proposta, independentemente do processo de soldagem e suas variáveis. Espera-se que, com a aplicação do calor imposto líquido, os cálculos e simulações envolvidos na engenharia de soldagem sejam mais robustos, uma vez que se dispensa o uso de um parâmetro impreciso, como o rendimento térmico. / Doutor em Engenharia Mecânica

A indústria aeronáutica tem buscado melhorias no conceito de integridade estrutural, a partir do desenvolvimento de projetos mais otimizados com a produção de aeronaves mais leves e seguras. Tais projetos garantem aeronaves operacionalmente mais viáveis e redução no consumo de combustível, beneficiando o fabricante, os operadores e a população em geral, pois aplica o conceito de aeronave verde. Estruturas aeronáuticas em operação recebem solicitações de cargas típicas de vôo, como pressurização, sustentação, que por sua vez, geram esforços dos mais variados tipos e suas combinações, como tração, compressão, fadiga, torção, flexão, flambagem, cargas aeroelásticas, vibrações e flutter, associados a ambientes críticos. O conhecimento sobre o comportamento do material estrutural perante ambientes corrosivo ou de baixa temperatura, é importante para avaliação da vida útil das aeronaves. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento da liga AA2050-T84 sob ponto de vista de corrosão-fadiga e tenacidade a fratura em criogenia e, correlacionar com a microestrutura e fractografia através de ensaios mecânicos e de tenacidade a fratura em temperatura ambiente e criogênica. As condições de ensaios foram determinadas próximas a de serviço a que o material será inserido sendo, para criogenia -54 ºC e para os ensaios de propagação de trinca por fadiga em atmosfera ambiente e névoa salina com concentração de solução de 3,5% e 5% NaCl, frequência de 15Hz e razões de carga R = 0,1 e 0,5. Os resultados em criogenia mostraram que há melhora nas propriedades trativas e estabilidade na tenacidade, pois o material retém dutilidade com o decréscimo da temperatura. Os ensaios de propagação de trinca por fadiga foram executados com &Delta;K decrescente e os parâmetros para geração de névoa salina foram determinados experimentalmente. As curvas de crescimento de trinca e determinação do fator limite foram comparadas quanto a razão de carga e atmosfera de ensaio. Observou-se que para os ensaios de propagação de trinca por fadiga a presença da névoa salina acelera a taxa de propagação e resultam em um fator limite menor. / The aviation industry has sought improvements with the concept of structural integrity, from the development of more optimized designs with production aircraft with low weight and secure. These projects ensure an aircraft more operationally doable and reduced fuel consumption, benefiting the manufacturer, operators and the people, applying the concept of green aircraft. Aerospace structures in operation receive requests loads typical of flight, how pressurization support and lift that produce several types and combinations of requests, such as tensile, compression, fatigue, torsion, bending, buckling , aeroelastic loads, vibration and flutter associated with critical environments. Knowledge about the behavior of the structural material into corrosive environments or cryogenic temperature, it is important for evaluation to the lifetime of the aircraft. Accordingly , the aim of this study was to estimate the behavior of AA2050 - T84 alloy, about corrosion-fatigue and fracture toughness at cryogenic situations and correlate with microstructure and fractography, by mechanical tests and fracture toughness at room temperature and cryogenic. The test conditions has been determined near of the service that the material will be inserted, for cryogenic temperature -54 ºC and testing of fatigue crack propagation in air and salt spray with concentration of 3.5% and 5% NaCl, frequency 15Hz and load ratios R = 0.1 and 0.5. The cryogenic results showed that there improvement in tensile properties and stability in toughness due the restraint of ductility with decreasing temperature. Tests of fatigue crack propagation were carried out with &Delta;K decreasing and the parameters to obtain salt spray were determined experimentally. The crack growth curves and determination of the threshold were compared the according to load ratio and test atmosphere. In the fatigue crack propagation it was observed that presence of salt spray accelerates the rate of propagation and result in a lower threshold.