Influence of inclusion size on S-N curve characteristics of high-strength steels in the giga-cycle fatigue regime

Fatigue fracture of high-strength steels often occurs from small defect on the surface of a material or from non-metallic inclusion in the subsurface zone of a material. Under rotating bending loading, the S-N curve of high-strength steels consists of two curves corresponding to surface defect-induced fracture and internal inclusion-induced fracture. The surface defect-induced fracture occurs at high stress amplitude levels and low cycles. However, the subsurface inclusion-induced fracture occurs at low stress amplitude levels and high-cycle region of more than 10⁶ cycles (giga-cycle fatigue life). There is a definite stress range in the S-N curve obtained from the rotating bending, where the crack initiation site changes from surface to subsurface, giving a stepwise S-N curve or a duplex S-N curve. On the other hand, under cyclic axial loading, the S-N curve of high-strength steels displays a continuous decline and surface defect-induced or internal inclusion-induced fracture occur in the whole range of amplitudes. In this paper, influence factors on S-N curve characteristics of high-strength steels, including size of inclusions and the stress gradient of bending fatigue, were investigated for rotating bending and cyclic axial loading in the giga-cycle fatigue regime. Then, based on the estimated subsurface crack growth rate from the S-N data, effect of inclusion size on the dispersion of fatigue life was explained, and it was clarified that the shape of S-N curve for subsurface inclusion-induced fracture depends on the inclusion size.     

Influence of stress ratio on the threshold level for fatigue crack propagation in high strength steels

Centrally cracked specimens of JIS SM58Q and HT80 steels were fatigued. The fatigue crack growth rates, da/dn, and the stress intensity threshold levels, ΔK_th were measured over the range of stress ratio, R, from ?1 to 0.8 by the use of an automatic method of continuously decreasing stress intensity factor with crack extension. The measured ΔK_th was well represented as |ΔK_th/2|_R=(1?R)γ|ΔK_th/2|_R=0; and the propagation rate, as da/dn = A(1?R)^γm[(ΔK/2)^m ? {(1 ? R)^γ|ΔK_th/2|R=0}^m] for ?1≦R≦0.33 or da/dn = A(1 ? 0.33)^?γm [(ΔK/2)^m {(1 ? R)^γ |ΔK_th/2|R=0}^m] for 0.33 < ≦ 0.8.     

Prediction of very high cycle fatigue failure for high strength steels, based on the inclusion geometrical properties

This article deals with the experimental and predicted fatigue endurance of the high strength steels, European 100C6 (martensitic and bainitic) and the Japanese SUJ2 in the gigacycle regime. Tests were carried out with stress ratio R = −1 in tension–compression condition at room temperature. To attain the high number of cycles required in a reasonable period of time, an ultrasonic test machine working at 20 KHz was used to obtaining 1.7 × 10⁹ cycles in approximately 24 h. The relationship between the geometrical properties of inclusions associated with fatigue failure and the fatigue life of these steels was studied. Thereafter, with basis on a simplified evaluation of the highest stress in the elliptical inclusion for fatigue Mode I, three models to predict the fatigue life for these high strength steels were proposed adjusting non-linear regression curves to the corresponding experimental results.     

Effect of stress ratio on the mechanism of environmentally-assisted fatigue crack growth in high strength steels

The environmentally-assisted fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior of high strength steels, the effect of cathodic potential on the FCG rates, and fracture surfaces were examined in some aqueous solutions. The effect of stress ratio on the critical values of maximum stress intensity, as well as cyclic stress intensity range and da/dN, which define quantitatively the role of hydrogen-induced cracking and local anodic dissolution in crack propagation, were also examined.Published inProblemy Prochnosti, Nos. 1–2, pp. 94–102, January–February, 1995.     

The effect of stress ratio on fatigue crack growth rates in steels

The effects of stress ratio on fatigue crack growth thresholds and low and intermediate fatigue crack growth rates are examined on steels with ferrite-pearlite and tempered martensite microstructures, tested in air. The analysis of available experimental data shows that simple empirical relationships can be used to describe the stress ratio dependence of thresholds and fatigue crack growth rates. Results also indicate that thresholds decrease linearly with yield strength.     

Fatigue strength and fatigue failure at complicated states of stress

Uniaxial, biaxial and triaxial limit stress states in static and fatigue loading have been determined using triaxial models made from Cr-V and low-C steels. On triazial models from low-C steel the mechanism of fatigue failure in uni-, bi-, and triaxial loading was also studied.     

Influence of microstructure and load ratio on cyclic fatigue and final fracture behavior of two high strength steels

The results of a recent study aimed at understanding the conjoint influence of load ratio and microstructure on the high cycle fatigue properties and resultant fracture behavior of two high strength alloy steels is presented and discussed. Both the chosen alloy steels, i.e., AerMet® 100 and PremoMet™ 290 have much better strength and ductility properties to offer in comparison with the other competing high strength steels having near similar chemical composition. Test specimens were precision machined from the as-provided stock of each steel. The machined specimens were deformed in both uniaxial tension and cyclic fatigue under conditions of stress control. The test specimens of each alloy steel were cyclically deformed over a range of maximum stress at two different load ratios and the number of cycles to failure recorded. The specific influence of load ratio on cyclic fatigue life is presented and discussed keeping in mind the maximum stress used during cyclic deformation. The fatigue fracture surfaces were examined in a scanning electron microscope to establish the macroscopic mode and to concurrently characterize the intrinsic features on the fracture surface. The conjoint influence of nature of loading, maximum stress and microstructure on cyclic fatigue life is discussed.     

The influence of environment and stress ratio on fatigue crack growth at near threshold stress intensities in low-alloy steels

Fatigue crack propagation at low stress intensities has been studied in two low alloy steels in a variety of environments with particular emphasis being placed on the influence of stress ratio and strength level. It was found that fatigue crack growth rates are lower and threshold stress intensities ($\text{ΔK}{}_0$) are higher in vacuum than in humid, laboratory air but, in dry gaseous environments (argon, hydrogen and air) and at low stress ratio ($\text{R ~ 0.1}$), crack growth rates are faster and $\text{ΔK}{}_0$ values are lower than in laboratory air. However, the influence of stress ratio is considerably greater in laboratory air than in dry gaseous environments with the result that, at high stress ratio ($\text{R ~ 0.8}$) $\text{ΔK}{}_0$ values are similar in all environments examined. Increasing material strength level resulted in higher, near-threshold crack growth rates and a reduction in $\text{ΔK}{}_0$ in both dry and humid air environments. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of crack closure and environmental effects on fatigue crack growth behaviour. The importance of corrosion debris produced in fatigue cracks at low stress intensities is also discussed.     

Ultimate strength and failure modes for fillet welds in high strength steels

A study has been carried out on the effect of strength mismatch in weld metal and penetration ratio on the ultimate strength capacity of fillet welds and their failure modes. The ultimate strength capacity evaluated with nonlinear Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and testing is compared with the ultimate strength capacity predicted by standards: Eurocode3, BSK 07 (Boverkets handbok om StålKonstruktioner) and AWS (American Welding Society) D1.1 Structural welding code-Steel. Test results are used to establish correct material properties, to be input into the finite element model. A criterion for selection of consumables has been developed, when two different grades of high strength steels are to be joined. The results show that fully penetrated joint with under-matched filler material is more ductile and the ultimate strength capacity of base plate can be achieved. It is observed that joints with under-matched filler material are more sensitive to penetration ratio. The test data correlates reasonably well to the results predicted by FEA software and design codes. It is also concluded that joint preparation has an effect on the ultimate strength capacity of the joint.     

Effect of inclusion on subsurface crack initiation and gigacycle fatigue strength

The effect of inclusions on crack initiation and propagation in gigacycle fatigue was investigated experimentally and analytically in six high strength low alloy steels. Fatigue testing was performed at very high numbers of cycles through ultrasonic fatigue tests at 20 kHz. Inclusions at subsurface are common sites for fatigue crack nucleation in these alloys when cycles to failure was >10⁷ cycles. A significant change in the slope of the S–N curve was observed accompanying the transition from surface to subsurface crack initiation. A deterministic model has been developed to predict the total fatigue life, i.e. crack initiation life and crack propagation life, from the measured inclusion sizes. The predicted fatigue strength agreed reasonably well with the experimental results. It is a tendency that smaller inclusions are associated with longer fatigue life. The results demonstrated that the portions of life attributed to subsurface crack initiation between 10⁷ and 10⁹ cycles are >99%.     

Effect of the stress ratio on the fatigue and cyclic creep of low alloy steels. Report 1

The fatigue resistance of low-alloy steels 09G2 and 14Kh2GMR over the stress ratio range of 0 R < 1 has been studied. The limiting stresses under which these steels can be used has been determined. It was established that with increase in R, the fatigue limit shifts into regions of greater endurance.Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 2, pp. 24–27, February, 1991.