Effect of Temperature on the Low Cycle Fatigue of Cast Inconel 792-5A

Cyclic strain control tests have been performed on cylindrical specimens of cast polycrystalline Inconel 792-5A superalloy at 23, 500, 700 and 800 °C in laboratory atmosphere to study the effect of temperature on the fatigue behavior. Cyclic hardening-softening curves and fatigue life curves were measured. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the surface relief. Low amplitude straining was characterized by saturation of the stress amplitude. In room temperature high amplitude straining cyclic hardening was followed by marked saturation. Pronounced continuous hardening until failure was observed at 500 °C. Initial cyclic hardening was followed by softening at 800 °C. A systematic shift of the Manson-Coffin and of the Basquin curves to lower fatigue lives was found when temperature was increased. Fatigue cracks were observed to initiate from surface slip markings at all temperatures.