Aluminum sheet products having improved fatigue crack growth resistance and methods of making same

An Al—Cu base alloy sheet product comprising aluminum, from about 1 to about 5 weight percent Cu, up to about 6 weight percent Mg, up to about 0.7 weight percent Mn, up to about 0.5 weight percent Zr, up to about 0.2 weight percent Si, and substantially free of Li, wherein the sheet product comprises an anisotropic microstructure defined by grains having an average length to width aspect ratio of greater than about 4 to 1, and wherein the sheet product comprises unrecrystallized grains having a Brass texture of greater than 20 and/or recrystallized grains having a Goss textur of greater than 20.

An aircraft fuselage sheet comprising a rolled aluminum alloy sheet product comprising an anistropic microstructure defined by grains having an average length to width aspect ratio of greater than about 4 to 1, wherein the sheet product comprises unrecrystallized grains having a Brass texture of greater than 20 and/or recrystallized grains having a Goss texture of greater than 20, and the aluminum alloy is substantially free of Li, comprises a maximum of 0.7 weight percent Mn and composes a maximum of 0.2 weight percent Si.

A rolled aluminum alloy sheet product comprising an anisotropic microstructure defined by grains having an average length to width aspect ratio of greater than about 4 to 1, wherein the sheet product comprises unrecrystallized grains having a Brass texture of greater than 20 and/or recrystallized grains having a Goss texture of greater than 20, and the aluminum alloy is substantially Li free and comprises a maximum of 4.0 weight percent Cu and a maximum of 0.2 weight percent Si.

A rolled aluminum alloy sheet product comprising an anisotropic microstructure defined by grains having an average length to width aspect ratio of greater than about 4 to 1, wherein the sheet product comprises unrecrystallized grains having a Brass texture greater than 20 and/or recrystallized grains having a Goss texture of greater than 20, and the aluminum alloy is substantially free of Li and comprises a maximum of 4.0 weight percent Cu, a maximum of 0.7 weight percent Mn, and a maximum of 0.2 weight percent Si.

An Al—Cu base alloy sheet product comprising aluminum, from about 1 to 4.0 weight percent Cu, up to about 6 weight percent Mg, up to about 1 weight percent Mn, up to about 0.5 weight percent Zr, up to about 0.2 weight percent Si, and is substantially free of Li, wherein the sheet product comprises an anisotropic microstructure defined by grains having an average length to width aspect ratio of greater than about 4 to 1, and the sheet product comprises unrecrystallized grains having a Brass texture of greater than 20 and/or recrystallized grains having a Goss texture of greater than 20.

An Al—Cu base alloy sheet product comprising aluminum, from about 1 to about 4.0 weight percent Cu, up to about 6 weight percent Mg, up to about 0.7 weight percent Mn, up to about 0.5 weight percent Zr, up to about 0.2 weight percent Si, and is substantially free of Li, wherein the sheet product comprises an anisotropic microstructure defined by grains having an average length to width aspect ratio of grater than about 4 to 1, and the sheet product comprises unrecrystallized grains having a Brass texture of greater than 20 and/or crystallized grains having a Goss texture of greater than 20.

An aircraft fuselage sheet comprising a rolled aluminum alloy sheet product comprising an anistropic microstructure defined by grains having an average length to width aspect ratio of greater than about 4 to 1, wherein the sheet product comprises unrecrystallized grains having a Brs texture of greater than 20 and/or recrystallized grains having a Goss texture of greater than 20, and the aluminum alloy is substantially Li free and comprises a maximum of 4.0 weight percent Cu and a maximum of 0.2 weight percent Si.

An aircraft fuselage sheet comprising a rolled aluminum alloy sheet product comprising an anistropic microstructure defined by grains having an average length to width aspect ratio of greater than about 4 to 1, wherein the sheet product comprises unrecrystallized grains having a Brass texture of greater than 20 and/or recrystallized grains having a Goss texture of greater than 20, and the aluminum alloy is substantially Li free and comprises a maximum of 4.0 weight percent Cu, a maximum of 0.7 weight percent Mn, and a max of 0.2 weight percent Si.