Fatigue crack nuclei in austempered ductile cast iron

ABSTRACT Short fatigue crack nuclei in austempered ductile cast iron have been studied using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and X‐ray microtomography and by electron backscatter diffraction analysis. Fatigue cracks nucleate at graphite nodules and shrinkage microporosity. The crack nuclei are arrested and retarded by barriers in the microstructure, by either blocking of slip at boundaries or owing to the requirement for tilt and twist of the stage I crystallographic crack at grain boundaries. These observations indicate that both the size of the defects, such as graphite nodules and microporosity, and the size of the prior austenite grains control the largest crack nucleus that can develop, and hence determine the component fatigue limit.     

Influence of microstructure on high-cycle fatigue behavior of austempered ductile cast iron

An investigation was carried out to examine the influence of austempering heat treatments and the resultant microstructure of austempered ductile cast iron, on the fatigue crack growth rate, fatigue threshold, and high-cycle fatigue strength of the material. Two different approaches were used to study the fatigue behavior of this relatively new material, that is, a traditional S-N curve approach for determination of fatigue strength and a fracture mechanics-based approach for determination of the fatigue threshold. Compact tension and cylindrical specimens prepared from alloyed nodular ductile cast iron were given three different austempering heat treatments to produce three different microstructures. The fatigue threshold and high-cycle fatigue behavior of these specimens were studied in room temperature ambient atmosphere. The results of the present investigation demonstrate that the fatigue threshold of the material increases with increase in volume fraction of carbon-saturated austenite. The fatigue strength of the material, on the other hand, was found to increase with decrease in austenitic grain size. The crack growth process in the material was a combination of ductile striations and microvoid coalescence, and crack propagation by connecting the graphite nodules along its path.     

The role of graphite morphology and matrix structure on low frequency thermal cycling of cast irons

Low frequency thermal cycling tests were carried out on four types of cast iron (viz., austempered ductile iron, pearlitic ductile iron, compacted/vermicular graphite iron and grey cast iron) at predetermined ranges of thermal cycling temperatures. The specimens were unconstrained. Results show that austempered ductile iron has the highest thermal cycling resistance, followed by pearlitic ductile iron and compacted graphite iron, while grey cast iron exhibits the lowest resistance. Microstructural analysis of test specimens subjected to thermal cycling indicates that matrix decomposition and grain growth are responsible for the reduction in hardness while graphite oxidation, de-cohesion and grain boundary separation are responsible for the reduction in the modulus of elasticity upon thermal cycling.     

Ductile cast irons: Microstructure influence on the fatigue initiation mechanisms

In the last decades, the combination of high mechanical performances and low production costs increased the industrial interest on ductile cast irons. These grades are often used for applications where the fatigue resistance can be a critical issue (eg, machine frames for the wind‐power industry or crankshaft used in trucks) and the investigation of the main damaging mechanisms during both the crack initiation and the crack propagation stage could offer new perspectives about these alloys. Ductile cast irons can be considered as a natural composite, being characterized by graphite elements (nodules) embedded in a more or less ductile matrix (ranging from fully ferritic to pearlitic, from martensitic to austempered). In this work, the fatigue crack initiation mechanisms were investigated considering different matrix microstructure and the presence of a mechanical properties gradient in the graphite nodules.     

Effect of microstructure on the fatigue strength of an austempered ductile iron

Rotating bending fatigue tests were carried out on austempered ductile iron containing 1.5 wt% nickel and 0.3 wt% molybdenum. The ductile iron was austenitized at 900 or 1050 °C and then austempered at 280 or 400 °C for different lengths of time to obtain different microstructures. The fatigue strength was correlated with the amount of retained austenite and its carbon content, which were both determined by X-ray diffraction technique. While the tensile strength decreased with increasing retained austenite content, the fatigue strength was found to increase. Carbide precipitation was found to be detrimental to fatigue strength. Lower austenitizing temperature resulted in better fatigue strength.     

Nanoausferritic matrix of ductile iron

Abstract

Austempered ductile iron is known for its excellent mechanical properties resulting from special phase composition and austempering heat treatment. Typical microstructure consists of ferrite plates of micrometre size submerged in untransformed austenite matrix. It has been recently shown that by use of appropriate chemical composition of cast iron and well targeted heat treatment parameters, it is possible to reduce ferrite plates width to submicron or even nanometric size. This creates the potential to achieve even higher mechanical properties of austempered ductile iron. The paper describes the influence of applied heat treatment parameters on microstructure of selected austempered ductile iron grades. Conditions necessary to reduce size of phases to a nanometric scale by heat treatment in austempered ductile iron are discussed.     

Fatigue crack propagation damaging micromechanisms in ductile cast irons

Ductile iron discovery in 1948 gave a new lease on life to the cast iron family. In fact, these cast irons are characterized both by a high castability and by high toughness values, combining cast irons and steel good properties. Ductile cast irons are also characterized by high fatigue crack propagation resistance, although this property is still not widely investigated.In the present work, three different ferritic–pearlitic ductile cast irons, characterized by different ferrite/pearlite volume fractions, and an austempered ductile cast iron were considered. Their fatigue crack propagation resistance was investigated in air by means of fatigue crack propagation tests according to ASTM E647 standard, considering three different stress ratios (R = K_min/K_max = 0.1; 0.5; 0.75). Crack paths were investigated by means of a crack path profile analysis performed with an optical microscope. Crack surfaces were extensively analysed by means of a scanning electron microscope both considering a traditional procedure and performing a quantitative analysis of 3D reconstructed surfaces, mainly focusing graphite nodules debonding.     

Effect of microcracking on the micromechanics of fatigue crack growth in austempered ductile iron

The effect of microcracking on the mechanics of fatigue crack growth in austempered ductile iron is studied in this paper. The mechanism of fatigue crack growth is modelled using the boundary element method, customized for the accurate evaluation of the interaction effects between cracks and microcracks emanating from graphite nodules. The effects of nodule size and distribution and crack closure are considered, with deviation bounds of computed results estimated through weight-function analyses. A continuum approach is employed as a means of quantifying the shielding effect of microcracking on the dominant propagating crack, due to the reduction of stiffness of the material in the neighbourhood of the crack tip. Although the results obtained may not yield actual numbers for real cases, they are in accordance with experimental observations and demonstrate how the main factors affect the crack growth of the macrocrack.     

An engineering approach to fatigue analysis based on elastic‐plastic fracture mechanics

Nowadays cast iron components are widely used in highly stressed structures. Component lifetime is strongly influenced by inhomogeneities caused by the material's microstructure and the manufacturing process (graphite particles, (micro‐)shrinkage pores, inclusions). Inhomogeneities often act as a fatigue crack starter. Lifetime until failure may be divided into stages for crack initiation, short and long crack growth. Initiation of a crack of technical size (a ≈ 1mm) is often dominated by the growth of short cracks. The paper presents an approach to analyse the mechanically short fatigue crack growth based on elastic‐plastic fracture mechanics considering the closure behaviour of short cracks. The effective J‐integral range is used as a crack driving force. Finite element analysis results as well as analytical solutions to approximate the crack driving force are presented. The application of the approach is successfully demonstrated for cast iron material EN‐GJS‐400‐18‐LT using data from fatigue tests, microstructure and fracture surface analyses to assess the fatigue life.     

High temperature decomposition of austempered microstructures in spheroidal graphite cast iron

Abstract

Spheroidal graphite (SG) cast iron is often plasma nitrided for corrosion resistance, and plasma nitriding has been proposed as a surface engineering treatment to improve wear resistance. However, the microstructure of austempered SG iron comprises constituents that may be unstable at nitriding temperatures. Therefore, the thermal stability of austempered SG cast iron has been studied at high temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry shows that microstructures obtained by austempering at low (300°C) and intermediate (380°C) temperatures, and which contained retained austenite, underwent a large exothermic transition during heating to typical nitriding temperatures. The transition began at approximately 470°C and peaked at 510–520°C, and was due to the decomposition of retained austenite to ferrite and cementite. A microstructure obtained by austempering at a higher temperature (440°C), and which consisted entirely offirst and second stage bainite, was stable up to nitriding temperatures. After tempering for 2 h at 570°C all austempered microstructures consisted offerrite and cementite, but cementite was most finely distributed in the material that had been austempered at 300°C, and coarsest in that austempered at 440°C. It is concluded that if SG cast iron is to be nitrided conventionally at temperatures >500°C, then prior austempering to obtain controlled microstructures is of limited value.

MST/3106     

Fatigue crack propagation of bainitic nodular cast iron

The effects of austempering temperature and isothermal transformation time on fatigue crack growth rate in a ductile iron with a bainitic structure have been studied. Crack growth rates in austempered samples were compared with those in materials with a ‘bullseye’ casting structure. Using scanning electron microscopy, the mechanism of the fatigue crack growth can be understood by observing the fracture surface of a fatigue specimen. X-ray diffractometry was used to determine the volume fraction of retained austenite. It can be concluded that the volume fraction of retained austenite, the fracture mode and the matrix microstructure are closely related to the fatigue crack propagation rate and the fracture mode.     

EFFECT OF OVERSTRESSING ON FATIGUE BEHAVIOUR OF AUSTEMPERED DUCTILE IRON

Abstract Studies have been conducted on the effect of overstressing in rotary bending fatigue on the fatigue properties of an annealed and austempered ductile iron containing 1.5 Ni–0.3 Mo. For various R ratios S–N curves were determined and the fatigue limit estimated. It was found that the fatigue limit was a function of the level of overstressing and cycle ratio. In the case of austempered samples a beneficial effect of overstressing was observed at a certain level of overstressing. This was related to the work hardening behaviour of the austenite phase. In annealed samples, a reduction in the fatigue limit was observed at all levels of overstressing.     

Effect of intermetallic particles and grain boundaries on short fatigue crack growth behaviour in a cast Al–4Cu–3Ni–0.7Si piston alloy

The short fatigue crack growth behaviour in a model cast aluminium piston alloy has been investigated. This has been achieved using a combination of fatigue crack replication methods at various intervals during fatigue testing and post‐mortem analysis of crack profiles. Crack–microstructure interactions have been clearly delineated using a combination of optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction. Results show that intermetallic particles play a significant role in determining the crack path and growth rate of short fatigue cracks. It is observed that the growth of short cracks is often retarded or even arrested at intermetallic particles and grain boundaries. Crack deflection at intermetallics and grain boundaries is also frequently observed. These results have been compared with the long crack growth behaviour of the alloy.     

Fracture toughness and growth of short and long fatigue cracks in ductile cast iron EN‐GJS‐400‐18‐LT

Heavy components of ductile cast iron frequently exhibit metallurgical defects that behave like cracks under cyclic loading. Thus, in order to decide whether a given defect is permissible, it is important to establish the fatigue crack growth properties of the material. In this paper, results from a comprehensive study of ductile cast iron EN‐GJS‐400‐18‐LT have been reported. Growth rates of fatigue cracks ranging from a few tenths of a millimetre (‘short’ cracks) to several millimetres (‘long’ cracks) have been measured for load ratios R=?1, R= 0 and R= 0.5 using a highly sensitive potential‐drop technique. Short cracks were observed to grow faster than long cracks. The threshold stress intensity range, ΔK_th, as a function of the load ratio was fitted to a simple crack closure model. Fatigue crack growth data were compared with data from other laboratories. Single plain fatigue tests at R=?1 and R= 0 were also carried out. Fracture toughness was measured at temperatures ranging from ?40 °C to room temperature.     

The relationship between fatigue strength and microstructure in an austempered Cu-Ni-Mn-Mo alloyed ductile iron

Rotating bending fatigue measurements are reported for an austempered ductile iron containing 3.5 wt% C, 2.6 wt% Si, 0.48 wt% Cu, 0.96 wt% Ni, 0.27 wt% Mo, and 0.25 wt% Mn. The iron was austenitized at 870, 900 and 950°C and then austempered at 370 and 400°C for times between 30 and 240 min to obtain various austempered microstructures. The correlation between fatigue strength and austempered microstructure represented by the parameter XγCγ, where Xγ is the amount of high C austenite and Cγ its C content is examined. It is shown that fatigue strength increases as XγCγ increases. The highest fatigue strength is obtained with an ausferrite structure; the presence of martensite and/or carbide in the structure reduces the fatigue strength. Lower austenitizing temperatures increase the fatigue strength. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Study of the fracture of ferritic ductile cast iron under different loading conditions

This work is a continuation of the studies presented in a recent paper by the authors, where the fracture surfaces of pearlitic ductile cast iron under different loading conditions were exhaustively analysed. In this study, fracture surfaces of ferritic ductile cast iron (or ferritic spheroidal graphite cast iron) generated under impact, bending and fatigue loading conditions were characterised and compared. The fracture surfaces were characterised qualitatively and quantitatively from the observation under a scanning electron microscope. The fracture mechanisms in each case were identified. For impact tests, as test temperature increases, the dominant fracture mechanism changes from brittle to ductile. For bending tests, a fully ductile fracture micromechanism dominates the surface. In fatigue tests, the surface shows a mix of flat facets that appear to be cleavage facets and ductile striations, but the typical fatigue striations are not easily found on the fracture surface. Methodologies for the determination of the macroscopic direction of main crack propagation in both ductile and brittle failure modes are proposed. These allow identifying main crack propagation direction with good approximation. The results are potentially useful to identify the nature of loading conditions in a fractured specimen of ferritic spheroidal graphite cast iron. The authors believe that it is necessary to extend the methodologies proposed in samples with different geometry and size, before they can be used to provide additional information to the classical fractographic analysis.     

High cycle rotating bending fatigue property in high strength casting steel with carbide free bainite

Abstract

The present work shows a steel structure with bainitic ferrite dispersed on a matrix of carbon enriched retained austenite. The steel was produced using an air melting technique, and it was austempered at 200°C for 240 h. The steel presents tensile strength of ～2 GPa. The authors report the new results of resistance to high cycle rotating fatigue in high strength bending life limit 10⁷ cycles. A fatigue strength of 593 MPa was obtained, a result that is higher than that presented by important engineering materials such as forged steel and austempered ductile iron, even with the presence of fracture type ‘fish eye’, which nucleates mainly on shrinkage defects.     

Effect of tempering treatment on hydrogen-induced cracking in high-strength steel

The fracture characteristics of high-strength steel ASTM A-490 under a hydrogen environment were investigated, with special emphasis placed on changes in fracture characteristics due to a tempering treatment at temperatures from 200 to 400 °C. A mechanical test was performed on cathodically charged specimens subjected to a constant load. Experimental analyses show that tempering treatment in the range from 200 to 400 °C does not alter the essential nature of delayed fracture due to crack growth. However, the role of intergranular (IG) cracking becomes prominent in the subcritical crack growth period with an increase in the tempering temperature to 400 °C. This development of IG cracks in the subcritical crack growth period is uniquely dependent on the tempering treatment performed in the tempering range from 250 to 400 °C. Furthermore, an increase in the fraction of the IG facet in the subcritical crack growth area is dependent on the increase in the stress intensity at the crack tip in those specimens tempered at 300 and 400 °C.     

INITIATION AND GROWTH OF SMALL CRACKS IN DIRECTIONALLY SOLIDIFIED MAR-M247 UNDER CREEP-FATIGUE PART II: EFFECT OF ANGLE NETWEEN STRESS AXIS AND SOLIDIFICATION DIRECTION

This paper deals with the effect of anisotropy on fracture processes of a directionally solidified superalloy, Mar-M247, under a push–pull creep-fatigue condition at high-temperature. Three kinds of specimen were cut from a cast plate such that their axes possess angles of 0°, 45° and 90° with respect to the 〈001〉 orientation that is aligned parallel to the solidification direction (also to the grain boundaries and primary dendrite axis); these specimens being denoted the 0° specimen, the 45° specimen, and the 90° specimen, respectively. The tests were conducted at 1273  K (1000 °C) in air under equal magnitudes of the range of a Δ J -related parameter, Δ W _c , which represents the driving force for crack growth in creep-fatigue. Although the grain boundaries are macroscopically parallel to the solidification direction, they are wavy or serrated microscopically. Small cracks nucleate along parts of the grain boundaries perpendicular to the stress axis in all specimens. The 90° specimen has the shortest crack initiation life and the 0° specimen has the longest. In the 90° and 45° specimens, intergranular cracks continue to nucleate and a main crack is formed along the grain boundary due to the frequent coalescence of small cracks. In the 0° specimen, cracks grow into the grain, and transgranular cracks coalesce along the primary dendrite or grain boundary. The 0° specimen exhibits the slowest crack growth rate and the 90° specimen the fastest. These differences in the initiation and growth behaviour of small cracks cause the longest failure life in the 0° specimen and the shortest in the 90° specimen.     

Austempered ductile iron heat treatment for machine hammer peening of milled tool surfaces

Austempered ductile iron (ADI) has become a competitive material to conventional steels. In addition to its favorable price the main reasons are its mechanical properties can be adjusted over a wide range via heat treatment. Austempered ductile iron consists of ferrite, graphite and metastable austenite. Tailoring its microstructure (phase fractions, stability) with regard to the application is an important challenge. A cast iron used for forming dies is EN‐JS2070. In earlier studies it could be shown that EN‐JS2070 can be transformed into austempered ductile iron [1]. Machine hammer peening, causes martensitic transformation of the metastable austenite and leads to hard and smooth surfaces. Focus of this study is to optimize the microstructure with regard to machine hammer peening process. Before and after machine hammer peening the sample surfaces were characterized using optical and laser microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and hardness measurement. It could be shown that a combination of high amount of metastable austenite with a high carbon content leads to the best results in surface roughness and hardness.