Fatigue crack initiation and propagation in several nickel-base superalloys at 650°C

The modes of crack initiation and propagation of several nickel-base superalloys have been examined after fatigue and creep-fatigue testing at 650°C. In fatigue, crack initiation was transgranular and frequently associated with porosity or inclusions in the higher strength alloys. These defects were usually located at the surface, except for tests at low strain ranges where larger, internal defects often initiated failure. Although fatigue crack initiation was transgranular, in those alloys with grain sizes of less than 15 μm, fatigue crack growth quickly became intergranular. This transition was environmentally assisted and did not occur for subsurface cracks until the crack broke through to the atmosphere. In the creep-fatigue cycle, which included a 900 s tensile dwell, crack initiation and propagation wer e both intergranular in all alloys.