Influence of turning parameters on the high‐temperature fatigue performance of Inconel 718 superalloy

The safety‐critical rotating parts of aircraft engines are mainly designed using experimental material data, based on standard specimens and procedures, while few data are available on the effect of manufacturing anomalies on fatigue life. In this context, the paper investigates the effects of different machining parameters on the high‐temperature fatigue resistance of Inconel 718 superalloy specimens, cut from engine disk forgings, machined by turning on a vertical lathe. An unconventional specimen was designed in order to have the machining marks aligned with the fatigue loading axis, so to reproduce the hoop stresses in engine disks. For the test campaign, three machining parameters were chosen (depth of cut, cutting speed and insert wear) that typically may generate non‐geometrical anomalies. A correlation has been found between the machining parameters, the residual stresses, the surface roughness, and the distorted and amorphous layer thicknesses. Correlations of such data with fatigue life are also presented and discussed.     

Numerical analysis and experimental validation of surface roughness and morphology in honing of Inconel 718 nickel-based superalloy

Honing is an important technology for machining onboard system parts. The parts are usually made of difficult-to-machining materials, e.g., Inconel 718 superalloy. Honing can improve the finishing accuracy and surface quality. However, the selection of the honing parameters was primarily based on the results of a large number of experiments. Therefore, the establishment of a reliable model is needed to predict the honed surface roughness and morphology, and offers a theoretical direction for the choice of parameters. In the present study, a numerical simulation model was constructed for analysis of the honing process by Python. The oilstone, workpiece surface morphology and motion trajectory were discretized by Python, and the machined surface was obtained by trajectory interference. Firstly, based on the statistical analysis of the surface topography of oilstone, the shape of grains was simplified and the surface topography of oilstone was built accordingly. Then, the initial surface morphology of the workpiece was constructed and the trajectory of grains on the workpiece surface was analyzed, which showed the distribution of the removed material. Meanwhile, the plastic deformation of material was analyzed in the simulation model. The critical depth of three stages of contact between grains and workpiece was calculated by the theoretical formula: scratching, ploughing and cutting. By analyzing the distribution of bulge, the plastic deformation in ploughing and cutting stage was studied. Further, the simulated results of honed surface roughness and morphology were validated and agreed reasonably well with the honing experiment. Finally, the effects of honing process parameters, including grain size, tangential speed, axial speed, radial speed and abrasive volume percentage, on the surface roughness of the workpiece were analyzed by the simulation model. The full text can be downloaded at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40436-022-00422-0     

Single pass laser joining of Inconel 718 superalloy with filler

Abstract

Microstructure and mechanical property of CO₂ laser beam welded IN 718 superalloy were studied by electron microscopy and hardness testing. The use of a welding filler wire produced a sound fusion zone with no cracking but grain boundary microfissuring occurred in the heat affected zone (HAZ) and was observed to be significantly influenced by pre-weld heat treatment and laser welding speed. Crack-free weld was produced by a pre-weld heat treatment that minimised non-equilibirum grain boundary boron segregation and inhibited grain growth. While post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) reduced the difference between the hardness values of the base alloy, HAZ and the fusion zone, it resulted in increased HAZ cracking, which was likely aided by pre-existing cracks. The PWHT cracking was, however, avoided by subjecting pre-weld material to the heat treatment condition that produces crack-free weld during welding process.     

In-situ SEM study of temperature-dependent tensile behavior of Inconel 718 superalloy

Journal of Materials Science - The effect of deformation temperature on tensile behavior of Inconel 718 alloy has been studied by a self-developed in-situ high-temperature tensile stage inside a...     

Characterisation of hot isostatically pressed nickel base superalloy Inconel* 718

Abstract

Inert gas atomised Inconel 718 superalloy powder was characterised for various important properties and subsequently consolidated by hot isostatic pressing (hipping) at 1200° C and 120 MPa for 3 h. The density of the as compacted material was nearly the same as its theoretical density. Optical microscopy of as hipped material showed a fine grained structure with no porosity but having annealing twins and prior particle boundaries (PPBs). Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) studies revealed that the PPBs were decorated with Al, Ti oxides, and MC type carbides enriched with Nb and Ti. In addition to these phases, the presence of very fine γ"-Ni₃Nb and γ'-Ni₃(Al,Ti) precipitates in the matrix were revealed by TEM analysis, which indicates that the compacted material was partially aged during the slow cooling stage of hipping. Tensile tests conducted on the as hipped material showed that the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and ductility values were comparable to those obtained in the (solution treated and two step aged) wrought alloy 718, although its yield strength was marginally lower at room temperature.     

Micromechanisms of fatigue crack growth in a forged Inconel 718 nickel-based superalloy

The micromechanisms of fatigue crack propagation in a forged, polycrystalline IN 718 nickel-based superalloy are evaluated. Fracture modes under cyclic loading were established by scanning electron microscopy analysis. The results of the fractographic analysis are presented on a fracture mechanism map that shows the dependence of fracture modes on the maximum stress intensity factor, K_max, and the stress intensity factor range, ΔK. Plastic deformation associated with fatigue crack growth was studied using transmission electron microscopy. The effects of ΔK and K_max on the mechanisms of fatigue crack growth in this alloy are discussed within the context of a two-parameter crack growth law. Possible extensions to the Paris law are also proposed for crack growth in the near-threshold and high ΔK regimes.     

Inconel718合金扩散连接接头的组织与性能研究

对细晶Incone1718高温合金无中间层和加Ni箔中间层两种情况下的扩散连接进行了研究,分析了不同的连接温度、连接压力、连接时间等工艺参数对接头剪切强度的影响;通过SEM、EPMA和金相技术对接头微观组织和力学性能进行了分析.确定了获得优质接头的最佳工艺参数区间,即扩散连接温度T=1 050℃,连接压力P=20 MPa,连接时间t=45 min,选用Ni箔作为中间层,厚度为25 μm.     

An experimental study on residual stress relaxation in low-cycle fatigue of Inconel 718Plus

Residual stress relaxation induced by the application of mechanical loads is determined by the nature of residual stress, the elasto-plastic material properties, and the type of applied load. Despite the importance of the first load cycle, analytical models available in the literature generally assumed residual stress relaxation as a continuous process. Residual stress induced by machining on Inconel 718Plus superalloy cylindrical specimens was measured before and after the application of load cycles under strain control. Low-cycle fatigue tests were carried out at room temperature for different strain amplitudes, and X-ray diffraction measurements were performed before and after 10 and 100 cycles. A comprehensive analytical model was derived to describe the relaxation process associated with the initial cycles and that associated with the continuous application of load cycle, which is based on the plastic strain energy per cycle W and requires the evaluation of parameters that are only dependent on the material and not on the strain amplitude.     

Multisheet structure of Inconel 718 superalloy processed by LBW/SPF technology and its microstructure

Abstract

Multisheet structure of Inconel 718 superalloy will be widely used in vehicles as heat resisting and heat shielding structure due to its lightweight, high strength and stiffness. Multisheet structure of Inconel 718 superalloy was processed by laser beam welding and superplastic forming (LBW/SPF) technology in the present paper. Multisheet structure of Inconel718 superalloy processed by LBW/SPF technology exhibits good configuration and uniform thickness distribution. Laser beam welding parameters for multisheet structure were as follows: pulse frequency was 32 Hz; pulse duration 3 ms; peak power per pulse 4500 W; welding speed 180 mm min^–1; SPF parameters were as follows: temperature T_f=965°C; forming pressure P _f=4·2 MPa; forming time t _f=130 min. Microstructure of multisheet structure was studied carefully. Microstructure in weld fusion zone was constituted of austenite dendritics and Laves phase precipitated in interdendritics. After SPF process, austenite dendritics in the weld fusion became coarser and most of Laves phases were dissolved and turned into δ precipitated phase but a few of Laves phases were still reserved. And Nb concentration in dendritics increased to 5·42% compared to 2·82% under as welded condition. Weld metal hardness increased from 331·63 under as welded condition to 391·74 under post-SPF condition which was closed to the base material hardness of post-SPF. Grain size of base material grew slightly and an amount of precipitated phase appeared in the base material undergoing SPF process. The tensile test results of base material show that tensile strength increased obviously and the ductility decreased slightly after SPF process. Therefore, LBW/SPF technology is an appropriate forming technique for multisheet structure of Inconel 718 superalloy.     

A comprehensive study on surface integrity of nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718 under robotic belt grinding

Surface integrity of materials should be considered under robotic belt grinding in order to achieve desired finishing quality. In this work, the surface integrity of nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718, involving morphological structure, surface roughness, residual stress and structural domain size, was characterized systematically. A novel predicted model of grinding parameters optimization was proposed based on linear weighting function. The result shows that considerable compressive stress (about?355 MPa) and minimum roughness on material surface are achieved simultaneously at the grinding force of 178 kPa and belt speed of 31 m/s. The morphological structures and microhardness for the specimen under the optimized condition were further analyzed and discussed. Surface hardness is increased by 15%. Grain refinement and a large number of dislocations occur in the subsurface, which are attributed to continuous partial dynamic recrystallization associated with combined effects of plastic deformation and thermal treatment, which results from grinding force and belt speed. The new findings are of significance for ensuring surface integrity with optimal process parameters.     

Quantitative phase analysis of Inconel 718 by X-ray diffraction

Abstracts are not published in this journal This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fracture toughness analysis of laser-beam-welded superalloys Inconel 718 and 625

In this study, two 3.2‐mm thick Ni‐base superalloys, Inconel 718 and 625, have been laser‐beam‐welded by a 6‐kW CO₂ laser and their room temperature fracture toughness properties have been investigated. Fracture toughness behaviour of the base metal (BM), fusion zone (FZ) and heat affected zone (HAZ) regions was determined in terms of crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) using compact tension‐type (C(T)) specimens. Laser‐beam‐weld regions showed no significant strength overmatching in both alloys. Ductile crack growth analysis (R‐curve) also showed that both materials exhibited similar behaviour. Compared to the BM there is a slight decrease in fracture toughness of the fusion and the HAZ.     

Superplastic behaviour of Inconel 718 sheet

Abstract

Inconel 718 is a nickel based alloy used extensively in the aerospace industry, having good service capabilities, in terms of strength and fatigue resistance, at high temperatures. Inconel 718, in the form of sheet, has the capability of being shaped using gas pressure forming techniques similar to those used for a number of aluminium and titanium based alloys. An extensive research programme has been carried out to investigate the high temperature formability of this alloy. This has involved both uniaxial tensile testing to determine such parameters as flow stress and strain rate sensitivity, and microstructural examination to investigate grain stability under both static heating and following deformation. The forming characteristics of the material have been correlated with the δ phase solvus temperature determined using SEM techniques. Optimum forming temperatures and strain rates are discussed.     

High-temperature fatigue crack growth in Inconel 718 subjected to high strain amplitudes

Fatigue crack growth experiments in Inconel 718 subjected to high strain amplitudes at 650 °C have been conducted. In the study the effects of load amplitude, ratio and frequency have been investigated. It was found that crack growth is a mixture of cyclic and time dependent mechanisms, depending on the load frequency. The load frequency was also found to have a strong influence on the crack growth rate. Also, crack closure was found to play an important role. By using an effective J‐integral and including a frequency compensation term it was possible to summarize crack growth data into an empirical life prediction law, which seems to be in reasonable agreement with data from other studies.     

Influence of stress state on high temperature fatigue crack growth in Inconel 718

The influence of stress state on fatigue crack growth in nickel-base superalloys at high temperature is considered, based on studies in corner crack specimens of Inconel 718 at 600 °C. At high frequency and low R , cycle-dependent trans-granular crack growth occurs along the whole crack front, and growth rates are similar at the surface and within the interior of specimens, maintaining the original quarter-circular shape. For conditions of low frequency and high R , increased crack growth rate per cycle is observed with the crack tunnelling ahead at the centre. A time-dependent intergranular crack propagation mode occurs in the plane strain interior, attributed to an oxidation mechanism, whereas near the surfaces under plane stress, a trans-granular cyclic plasticity mechanism is observed. It is proposed that in addition to frequency and R , that stress state influences the competition between the mechanisms controlling crack growth and the transition between them: plane strain in the interior favouring an oxidation-controlled intergranular cracking mechanism as compared with the plane stress surfaces where cyclic plasticity dominates. An FEM study suggests that this influence of stress state is not associated with variation of Δ K along the crack front.     

Hot deformation characteristics and strain-dependent constitutive analysis of Inconel 600 superalloy

The hot deformation characteristics and constitutive analysis of Inconel (IN) 600 superalloy were investigated at elevated temperatures. Hot compressive tests were carried out in the temperature and strain rate ranging from 900 to 1150 °C and 1 × 10⁻³–10 s⁻¹, respectively. The flow behavior analyses and microstructural observations indicate that the softening mechanisms were related to dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and grain growth. DRX played a dominant role in the microstructural evolution at low temperatures (or high strain rates). DRX was the dominant softening effect at low strains on testing at high temperatures with low strain rates, whereas growth of the dynamically recrystallized grains was responsible for softening at high strains. The flow stress of IN 600 was fitted well by the constitutive equation of the hyperbolic sine function under the deformation conditions performed in this study. A constitutive equation as a function of strain was established through a simple extension of the hyperbolic sine constitutive relation.     

Effects of solidification rate on segregation and fluid flow tendency in mushy zone of directionally solidified superalloy Inconel 718

Abstract

The microstructure and composition of the interdendritic liquid along the mushy zone of superalloy Inconel 718 that was directionally solidified at various solidification rates between 2 and 100 μm s^?1 have been investigated by SEM and EDAX techniques. The interdendritic liquid segregation profiles along the mushy zone are presented. The liquid density difference and Rayleigh number in the interdendritic liquid were calculated and analysed as well. It was found that when the solidification rates increased in the range 10–70 μm s^?1, segregation of Nb decreased, but segregation of Mo was most serious at 20 μm s^?1. The liquid density difference increased the most for rates from 20 to 40 μm s^?1 as temperature decreased. The maximum relative Rayleigh number was highest at 10°C below the liquidus temperature at 20 μm s^?1, which indicated the conditions where fluid flow most easily occurred for Inconel 718. The relative Rayleigh number synthetically considers the factors affecting fluid flow and can give a reasonable prediction for fluid flow tendency.     

Microstructure and high temperature fracture toughness of NG-TIG welded Inconel 617B superalloy

In the present study, the microstructure, fracture toughness, and fracture behavior of Inconel 617 B narrow gap tungsten inert gas(NG-TIG) welded joint were investigated systematically at the designed service temperature of 700℃. Fracture toughness(J_(0.2)) of base metal(BM) and heat affected zone(HAZ) was higher than that of weld metal(WM). In HAZ and BM, strain mainly loc alised at grain boundaries with large misorientation and there were lots of coincidence site lattice(CSL)∑3 boundaries related to twins inside grains, which led to the much higher fracture toughness of BM and HAZ than WM. The high numbers of twins as well as the less serious strain localization at grain boundaries resulted in the most outstanding fracture toughness of BM.