Creep-fatigue interaction in austenitic stainless steels

Low cycle fatigue failures occur by the initiation and controlled growth of a surface crack. The development of crack propagation models, based on continuum mechanics, have enabled successful predictions of fatigue life at both room and elevated temperatures. This paper attempts to extend such models to cover the situations in which creep damage, introduced during periods of stress relaxation, influences the rate of growth of the surface fatigue crack. Equations predicting fatigue life as a function of hold period are in good agreement with experimental data, for Type 304 stainless steel, Type 316 stainless steel and Incoloy-800.     

Fatigue crack growth in a type 316 stainless steel and a 20 pet Cr/25 pet Ni/Nb stainless steel at elevated temperature

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Fatigue failure in metals and alloys occurs by the nucleation and controlled propagation of a surface crack. At ambient temperature propagation is...     

Strain controlled fatigue deformation and fracture of nitrogen alloyed 316LN austenitic stainless steel

In this paper, Low cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior of 316LN austenitic stainless steel alloyed with 0.078 and 0.22 wt% nitrogen, designated as N078 and N022 steels respectively, is compared in the temperature range 300–873 K by strain controlled fatigue tests at ± 0.6% strain amplitude. Interestingly, N022 steel showed continuous decrease in fatigue life with temperature in contrast to N078 steel which showed maximum in fatigue life at 573 K. Drastic reduction in fatigue life is observed in both the steels in the temperature range 673–873 K and has been attributed to the occurrence of dynamic strain aging. Both steels exhibited manifestations (for ex.: decrease in plastic strain and anomalous stress response with increase in temperature) corresponding to the occurrence of Dynamic Strain Ageing (DSA) in the above temperature range. Under all testing conditions, fracture surfaces revealed transgranular crack initiation and transgranular crack propagation.     

基于声发射监测的316LN不锈钢的疲劳损伤评价

疲劳裂纹的萌生与扩展容易导致压力容器及管道的严重疲劳失效.因此就设备的安全可靠性而言,非常有必要对疲劳裂纹扩展过程进行监测,并对疲劳损伤程度进行评估.本文针对316LN不锈钢材料进行疲劳实验研究,利用直流电位法测量实验中的裂纹长度,得到了材料的疲劳裂纹扩展曲线.利用声发射技术对疲劳裂纹扩展过程进行监测,通过声发射多参数分析对疲劳损伤状态进行评价,同时建立了声发射参数与线弹性断裂力学参数之间的关系,并进行寿命预测.研究表明:声发射能够对316LN不锈钢的疲劳裂纹损伤进行有效评估,声发射累积参数如累积计数、累积能量和累积幅值曲线上的转折点标志着疲劳裂纹进入快速扩展阶段,这可以为工程人员提供失效预警;声发射波形和频谱分析表明,噪声信号的幅值较小且信号持续时间较长,信号包含的频率成分比较复杂,而裂纹扩展信号是突发型信号,衰减较快,信号频率主要集中在80~170 kHz范围内;声发射计数率、能量率和幅值率与应力强度因子幅度以及疲劳裂纹扩展速率之间呈线性关系,裂纹长度预测结果与实测值接近.本研究工作对于工程结构的疲劳失效预警和剩余寿命预测具有重要意义.      

Fatigue-crack propagation behavior of type 304 stainless steel in a liquid sodium environment

The fatigue crack growth of Type 304 stainless steel in a liquid sodium environment at 800 and 1000°F was characterized using a linear-elastic fracture mechanics approach. Tests were conducted in low (< 2.0 ppm) and high (20-40 ppm) oxygen sodium and the results were compared to those of tests conductedin vacua and in air. Similar crack propagation characteristics in air at room temperature and at elevated temperatures in sodium and vacuum is evidence that the thermally activated component of crack propagation observed in air is an environmental effect. Related work on environmental effects on fatigue or crack propagation properties are reviewed and discussed.     

Fatigue crack initiation and propagation in a quenched and tempered niobium bearing HSLA steel

The fatigue crack initiation and propagation behavior of a niobium bearing HSLA steel heat treated to give two tempered martensitic microstructures presumably with and without fine niobium carbides has been studied by light microscopy, electron microscopy, and strain gage measurements of plastic zone deformation. The high cycle, stress controlled fatigue life of the steel in both heat treated conditions was quite similar with the steel presumably containing the fine niobium carbides having slightly better resistance at low stress amplitudes. This slightly better high cycle resistance is associated with better resistance to fatigue crack initiation for this heat treatment. The fatigue crack propagation behavior of the steel was the opposite. The steel presumably containing the fine niobium carbides exhibited a much faster fatigue crack growth rate than that without them. The difference in growth rates is explained in terms of the plastic work expended during the propagation of the fatigue crack.     

Crack propagation rates of austenitic stainless steels under high-temperature low-cycle fatigue conditions

Crack propagation rates of austenitic stainless steels under high temperature low-cycle fatigue conditions were obtained from the fracture surfaces. The crack propagation, rates were expressed as a function of the crack length, independent of the mode of cracks. The proportion of the cycles corresponding to stage II to the fatigue life could be expressed as a function of the fatigue life. The crack propagation rate for solution treated Type 321 steel at 700°C could be expressed as functions of the plastic strain range, the strain-rate, and the crack length.     

High- temperature fatigue property of 18CrNbTi ferritic stainless steel

In order to determine the influence of dwell time and atmosphere environment on high- temperature fatigue properties of 18CrNbTi ferritic stainless steel, the high- temperature fatigue behaviors of 18CrNbTi steel with 10s dwell time at maximum stress in argon and simulated automobile exhaust gas were investigated under axial tension- tension stress- controlled mode at 800??, and compared with its high- temperature fatigue behavior in air without dwell time. The fracture surfaces of fatigued specimens were observed with scanning electron microscope. The results show that: the fatigue limit of 18CrNbTi steel in air is 25MPa; the fatigue resistance and fatigue life of 18CrNbTi steel significantly reduce after introducing 10s dwell time; in comparison with those in argon, the fatigue resistance and fatigue life have a further decrease in the simulated automobile exhaust gas; the fatigue cracks both initiate and propagate in a transgranular mode under all testing conditions.     

Fatigue of stainless steel in hydrogen

The fatigue crack growth rates of two austenitic stainless steel alloys, AISI 301 and 302, were compared in air, argon, and hydrogen environments at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. Under the stresses at the crack tip the austenite in type 301 steel transformed martensitically to a’ to a greater extent than in type 302 steel. The steels were also tested in the cold worked condition under hydrogen or argon. Hydrogen was found to have a deleterious effect on both steels, but the effect was stronger in the unstable than in the stable alloy. Cold work decreased fatigue crack growth rates in argon and hydrogen, but the decrease was less marked in hydrogen than in argon. Metallographic, fractographic, and microhardness surveys in the vicinity of the fatigue crack were used to try to understand the reasons for the observed fatigue behavior.     

固溶处理对2205双相不锈钢组织与疲劳裂纹扩展规律的影响

采用光学显微镜、扫描电镜、EDS能谱分析和力学性能测试等方法,研究了固溶处理对2205双相不锈钢显微组织与疲劳裂纹扩展规律的影响。结果表明：与原始热轧态相比,在950~1150℃范围固溶处理的试样的疲劳裂纹门槛值显著提高,稳态裂纹扩展速率均有所减小。在950℃固溶处理时,组织中析出少量的σ相,试样的稳态裂纹扩展速率显著降低;随着固溶温度的升高,组织中α相含量逐渐增加,σ相溶解,试样的稳态裂纹扩展速率的变化呈现为先增大后减小的趋势;当固溶温度达到1150℃时,组织中α相含量最高且两相组织明显粗化,试样的稳态裂纹扩展速率达到最小,呈现出最高的抗疲劳裂纹扩展能力。固溶处理引起σ相的析出与溶解、α相含量的增加及组织粗化是引起2205双相不锈钢试样疲劳裂纹扩展性能非单调变化的原因。     

Near-threshold fatigue crack growth properties at elevated temperature for 1Cr-1Mo-0.25V steel and 12Cr stainless steel

Near-threshold fatigue crack growth properties were investigated for a low-alloy steel 1Cr-1Mo-0.25V and a stainless steel SUS403 (13Cr) in the temperature range from 25 to 550°C. Fatigue tests were conducted at frequencies of 0.5, 5, and 50 Hz, in a manner designed to avoid crack closure. The effective value of threshold stress intensity range increased with increasing temperature and with decreasing frequency for the Cr−Mo−V steel, whereas the effective threshold stress intensity range was independent of temperature and frequency in the case of the SUS403 steel. At a given ΔK value, the fatigue crack growth rates accelerated with increasing temperature and with decreasing frequency for the Cr−Mo−V steel. However, although the rate of fatigue crack growth was independent of frequency at a given temperature for the SUS403 steel, the rate did increase with temperature. The observed threshold levels and crack growth behavior were closely related to the oxidation process of the bare surface formed at the crack tip during each load cycle.     

Low cycle fatigue and creep-fatigue interaction behaviour of 316L(N) stainless steel and its welds

High temperature low cycle fatigue (LCF) is influenced by various time dependent processes such as creep, oxidation, phase transformations and dynamic strain ageing (DSA) depending on test conditions of strain rate and temperature. In this paper the detrimental effects of DSA and oxidation in high temperature LCF are discussed with reference to extensive studies on 316L(N) stainless steel. DSA has been found to enhance the stress response and reduce ductility. It localizes fatigue deformation, enhances fatigue cracking and reduces fatigue life. High temperature oxidation accelerates transgranular and intergranular fatigue cracking during long hold time tests in austenitic stainless steel. In welds, microstructural features such as presence of coarse grains and formation of brittle phases due to transformation of δ ferrite during testing influence crack initiation, propagation and fatigue life.     

无镍高氮不锈钢弯曲疲劳裂纹萌生与扩展行为

 采用四点弯曲疲劳试验研究了不同应力水平下无镍高氮不锈钢的疲劳行为,并对材料疲劳裂纹的微观形貌、萌生位置及扩展路径进行了分析。结果表明,试验钢疲劳为多裂纹起裂,随着应力水平的升高,裂纹总长度逐渐增加,当应力水平接近材料屈服极限时,裂纹长度趋于稳定;裂纹大多数在滑移带处萌生,裂纹在扩展过程中产生了扭曲、偏移和分叉现象;裂纹在晶内主要沿单滑移带或多滑移带交替扩展,穿过晶界或孪晶界时大多发生了偏转。     

Fatigue-crack propagation behavior of type 304 stainless steel at elevated temperatures

The fatigue-crack propagation behavior of Type 304 stainless steel was investigated within the framework of linear elastic fracture mechanics at temperatures of 75‡, 600‡ 1000‡ and 1200‡F. The cyclic frequency for the elevated temperature tests was 4 cpm. It was found that, in general, fracture mechanics concepts may be used to describe the crack propagation behavior at these temperatures, and that increasing the temperature had a significant effect in increasing the fatigue-crack growth rate.     

Growth of small fatigue cracks in PH 13-8 Mo stainless steel

The growth of small fatigue cracks in PH 13-8 Mo (H1050) stainless steel under constant amplitude loading at different mean stresses (R=0.1 and −1) under generally high cycle fatigue conditions was investigated. Small cracks were allowed to initiate naturally at the root of a single edge notch specimen and were monitored using a surface replicating technique. It was found that the initiation and growth of surface cracks up to 100 μm encompassed 70 to 90 pct of the total fatigue life at stress amplitudes just above the fatigue limit. Cracks of length less than 100 μm were subject to strong influences of the microstructure and exhibited stage I (shear-dominated) growth, which was manifested in oscillatory crack growth rates. The oscillations diminished as the crack transitioned to stage II growth. The higher stress ratio (R=0.1) resulted in a more rapid transition from stage I to stage II growth in comparison to R=−1. After transitioning to stage II, the crack growth could be well characterized by conventional long crack tools even when the crack was still physically small. The small crack growth behavior is shown to be similar to that of a quenched and tempered AISI 4340 steel having a comparable strength.     

冶炼工艺对15-5PH不锈钢疲劳性能的影响

 为了研究冶炼工艺对15-5PH不锈钢疲劳性能的影响,通过ASPEX夹杂物分析、拉压疲劳试验和扫描电镜等手段并结合裂纹扩展速率试验,研究了冶炼工艺对15-5PH不锈钢中夹杂物的粒径分布和疲劳性能的影响,并对比了两种试验钢裂纹扩展速率的大小。结果表明,VIM+VAR工艺冶炼的1号试验钢总氧质量分数较低,夹杂物尺寸较小且质量分数较低,1号试验钢的疲劳强度比单真空工艺冶炼的2号试验钢高30 MPa,通过疲劳断口SEM观察,1号试验钢在表面基体起裂,2号试验钢的裂纹源是次表面的Al₂O₃夹杂物;相同条件下,1号试验钢裂纹扩展速率大于2号试验钢。     

Prediction of fatigue crack formation in 304 stainless steel

Strain-controlled fatigue tests have been conducted on center-holed 304 stainless steel specimens. The fraction of total fatigue life spent until formation of an “engineering” crack ranged from about 15 to 85 pct, indicating the potential importance of being able to predict the fatigue crack formation life. A “just formed engineering crack,” as defined here, is a through crack long in the thickness direction, which has just emerged from the center hole. An energy based parameter, ΔσrΔε,, has been shown to correlate with the appearance of fatigue cracks in the center-holed 304 stainless steel specimens. This parameter is suggested to be more useful in predicting fatigue crack formation life than Δσ or Δε, alone. A good correlation was found over the limited range of data for two types of 304 stainless steel, a powder metallurgy (PM) stainless steel with higher than normal strength prop-erties and an ingot metallurgy (IM) stainless steel with normal strength properties. A better correlation was found for strain-controlled fatigue tests which did not go into compressive strain than for com-pletely reversed fatigue. Formerly a graduate student with the Materials Science and Engineering Department, Northwestern University, is     

An assessment of cold work effects on strain-controlled low-cycle fatigue behavior of type 304 stainless steel

The influence of prior cold work (PCW) on low-cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior of type 304 stainless steel has been studied at 300, 823, 923, and 1023 K by conducting total axial strain-controlled tests in solution annealed (SA, 0 pct PCW) condition and on specimens having three levels of PCW, namely, 10, 20, and 30 pct. A triangular waveform with a constant frequency of 0.1 Hz was employed for all of the tests performed over strain amplitudes in the range of ±0.25 to ± 1.25 pct. These studies have revealed that fatigue life is strongly dependent on PCW, temperature, and strain amplitude employed in testing. The SA material generally displayed better endurance in terms of total and plastic strain amplitudes than the material in 10, 20, and 30 pct PCW conditions at all of the temperatures. However, at 300 K at very low strain amplitudes, PCW material exhibited better total strain fatigue resistance. At 823 K, LCF life decreased with increasing PCW, whereas at 923 K, 10 pct PCW displayed the lowest life. An improvement in life occurred for prior deformations exceeding 10 pct at all strain amplitudes at 923 K. Fatigue life showed a noticeable decrease with increasing temperature up to 1023 K in PCW state. On the other hand, SA material displayed a minimum in fatigue life at 923 K. The fatigue life results of SA as well as all of the PCW conditions obeyed the Basquin and Coffin-Manson relationships at 300, 823, and 923 K. The constants and exponents in these equations were found to depend on the test temperature and prior metallurgical state of the material. A study is made of cyclic stress-strain behavior in SA and PCW states and the relationship between the cyclic strain-hardening exponent and fatigue behavior at different temperatures has been explored. The influence of environment on fatigue crack initiation and propagation behavior has been examined.     

Fatigue fracture mechanism maps for a type 304 stainless steel

Fatigue fracture mechanism maps at room temperature and 573 K for a type 304 stainless steel were constructed by correlating the crack propagation rate with information obtained on the fracture surface. Depending on the crack propagation rate, ranging from 1 × 10⁻⁶ to 1 × 10⁻¹¹ m/cycle, three types of fracture surfaces were observed. One was a striation region; the second was a “featureless” fracture region, which appeared rough under scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation; and the third was crystallographic fracture region, which appeared smooth under SEM observation. The area fractions and the indexes of the fracture surfaces were quantified and identified by the etch-pit method. From the results, crack initiation and propagation mechanisms were cleared and fatigue fracture mechanism maps were constructed. The maps may be useful for investigating the cause of the fatigue failure accident of structures made of type 304 steels.     

Fatigue crack initiation and propagation behavior of high cobalt molybdenum stainless bearing steel

The crack initiation and propagation behavior of high cobalt molybdenum stainless bearing steel was studied by rotating bending fatigue test with smooth cylindrical specimens and notched specimens (theoretical stress concentration factor Kt=3). The fatigue limit and S- N curve of bearing steel were measured by up- and- down method and group method, respectively. The fractures of the specimens were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the cracking type of the smooth specimens is single source initiation. The crack source is surface defects and subsurface inclusion. The surface defects are surface roughness, persistent slip band and machining dent, while the subsurface inclusion is Al2O3- CaO- MgO- SiO2 composite inclusion. The fatigue limit of notched specimens is significantly decreased. The cracking type of the notched specimens is multi- source initiation. The notch sensitivity factor qf of bearing steel is 1. 18. The fatigue failure of the smooth specimens is transferred from the surface roughness with high stress amplitude to the persistent slip bands, the machining dents and the inclusions with low stress amplitude. The fatigue crack initiation life accounts for more than 94. 1% of the whole fatigue life.