Papers by Author: M. Vardosanidze

Abstract: Crack propagation after low-cycle fatigue (LCF) deformation has been studied in the chromium martensitic structural steel. Although the study of a fundamental mechanism of fatigue crack growth has received much attention over the last decade, it still remains a sufficiently complex problem and needs full understanding. Moreover, the recent studies show that the cracks propagate discontinuously even on the millisecond timescale, and their growth rate significantly depends on a microstructure of the material. In the present work the boundaries of the former austenitic grains were revealed on the polished surfaces of the thermally treated samples, which subsequently were undergone low-cycle fatigue tests. The experimental studies show that fatigue macrocracks mainly grow along the boundaries of the former austenitic grains, and changetheir propagation direction when crossing the grain boundary, however, remain within 45 ̊ interval with regard the cycling axis. In particular cases, when the boundaries of a martensite packets and those of the former austenite grains lay along the length of a packet, the macrocrack is better formed and with regular borders. After a macrocrack reaches a definite length ~30-50μ, a microcrack is nucleated ahead of the macrocrack tip, and is oriented along the substructure element of the steel. Further deformation tests provide an increase in the length of the main crack via aggregation of microcracks initiated ahead of it during the LCF. In the cases when the macrocrack is deviated, slip bands are formed in martensitic structures along the boundaries of martensite packets (laths). A correlation is revealed between the microcrack components and the substructure elements of the steel as well. The same results were obtained by fractography of the tested and fractured samples. However, in the latter case correlation was established between the cleavage facets and the dimensions of packets.

Abstract: Austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steel CrNiNb 18-10 was studied using TEM technique. Characterizations of thin films prepared from bulk cylindrical samples after low-cycle fatigue (LCF) tests were conducted. Focus was made on the dislocation clusters, slip bands, defects and microstructure changes taking place in the steel during LCF. It is shown that microcracks occur in slip bands. Stereographic and trace analyses revealed the microcrack propagation directions. Two types of microcracks were observed: wedge-shaped and with parallel sides. The obtained results on possible reasons and mechanisms of microcrack formation in the above places are discussed in line with the theoretical assumptions and the existing literature.

Abstract: Low cycle fatigue of high-chromium 13Х11Н2В2МФ stainless steel has been studied after cyclic tests at room temperature with the frequency of loading, 0.45Hz and amplitude, ± 1mm. The samples were v-notched with the dimensions x2x50, where =3mm. The peculiarities of fatigue crack propagation and influence of heat treatment, sizes of grains and laths, and disposition of microcrack and microstructure elements of the steel were studied. Next, the main effect on propagation direction is caused by the shape of grains and laths. It turned apparent that main microcrack is composed of individual micro-components with the lengths correlating with the dimensions of grains and martensitic laths. During growth crack propagation direction changes from lath to lath; however, general trend remains unchanged. The results of tests indicate that speed of fatigue failure rises when the frequency and amplitude of loading increases. The work includes x-ray characterization of the steel, statistical distribution curve for angles between the main direction of macrocrack propagation and micro-components, and explanation of micro- and macrocrack propagation alteration is given.

Abstract: The study deals with the TEM characterization of samples after low-cycle fatigue (LCF) tests of austenitic stainless steels used in nuclear power plants (NPP). Microcracks are observed in the TEM thin films prepared from standard cylindrical bulk samples. In plastic zones, at the tips of microcracks, several three-dimensional crystal structure defects are detected: 1. Arched extinction contours, 2. Zone of disorientations, 3. Deformation twins of different orientations, 4. Short micro cracks deviated from the main crack direction. The above defects have been studied using TEM, including micro-diffraction; trace analysis and dark-field techniques. It is shown that the microcrack and the created defects represent the means of relaxation of elastic stresses retained in the sample after LCF. It is also shown that redistribution of stresses leads to the nucleation of microcracks and subsequent creation of all the observed defects. A dislocation scheme of the stresses, detected by the extinction contours at microcrack tip, is proposed. The comparison of the proposed scheme of stress distribution with the TEM micrographs shows a good resemblance. Consequently, a topology of stress distribution at microcrack tip - before formation of plastic zone - is determined. The shape represents a three-leaved figure. Compliances and differences between the proposed scheme and the experimentally observed defects and plastic zone size are discussed based on crystallographic analysis of the respective electron diffraction patterns.

Abstract: This study deals with the SEM and optical microscopic characterization of fatigue plastic deformation process during fatigue crack initiation to understand where, why and how cracks initiate under conditions of low cycle fatigue. Samples were prepared from the 13Х11Н2В2МФ high-chromium stainless steel used for fusion power applications. The low-cycle tests were conducted at room temperature with the standard V-notched samples prepared from conventional stainless steel. The following characteristics were studied during fatigue tests: 1 macrocrack propagation, 2. interaction between macrocrack and isolated microcracks, 3. interaction between macrocrack and slip bands, 4. interaction between macrocrack and microstructure elements of the steel. The above experiments show that during macrocrack propagation a plastic zone is formed around it, where isolated microcracks and slip bands of 2-3 different directions are observed. Measurement of plastic zone dimensions after different number of cycles of deformation show that plastic zone size increases during the first stage of cyclic deformation (until definite number of cycles are completed), and then remains unchanged. The observations show that main crack is composed of individual micro-components, the lengths of which are in a good correlation with the dimensions of microstructure elements of the steel (former austenite grains, martensite crystals). It was revealed that during growth, as a rule, macrocrack rarely propagates along isolated microcracks and slip bands. Direction of macrocrack propagation changes while passing from one microstructure element to another, so that main direction is the same. No preferable transcrystalline or intercrystalline propagation of macrocrack has been observed in the investigated steel. It is shown that after subsequent fatigue tests, dimensions of the previously created slip bands increase, and additional new slip band are also formed. The sites and frequency of slip bands’ formation in plastic zone are also studied. It was observed that the boundaries and mainly the sites of intersection of martensite crystals are the sites of isolated (rough) microcracks’ formation. The dimensions of slip bands are comparable with those of martensite crystals. The angles between the main crack propagation direction and slip bands varied from 30o to 60o, however, most of the slip bands were oriented at 45o to the main crack. Based on the obtained results a conclusion is made that plastic deformation in samples go inhomogeneously. In plastic zones, along with the heavily deformed areas, almost non-deformed areas are also observed. The speed of fatigue fracture increases with the increase in frequency and amplitude of deformations. Generally, the annealed samples are destructed prematurely in comparison with non-annealed ones of the investigated steel.

Abstract: The structure of austenitic steel before and after 25% of total number of cycles of low cycle fatigue tests conducted at room temperature is studied using TEM. It is shown that the cyclic deformation of the steel proceeds heterogeneously. The microstructure of the steel is investigated in the area between the deformed and undistorted parts of the samples. The crystallography of the observed twins and the slip bands is specified. The value of local plastic deformation within a micro area of a grain is measured, and the influence of microstructure on crack initiation is discussed.

Abstract: The microcrack tip plastic zone sizes in austenitic steels are measured using REM and interference microscope. It is shown that the plastic zone size varies from 300µm to 350µm. The importance of determining this parameter is discussed. Based on the analysis of the conventional continuum equations of linear-elastic approach a simple formula is derived for calculation of plastic zone size, R=d E/2π σF, establishing relation between the plastic zone radius (R), microcrack width (d), elasticity modulus (E) and the yield strength of the material (σF). The measured values of plastic zone size are in a good agreement with those reported in literature, and calculated by the above formula.

Abstract: The structure of austenitic steel before and after 25% of total number of cycles of low cycle fatigue tests conducted at room temperature is studied using TEM. It is shown that the cyclic deformation of the steel proceeds heterogeneously. The microstructure of the steel is investigated in the area between the deformed and undistorted parts of the samples. The crystallography of the observed twins and the slip bands is specified. The value of local plastic deformation within a micro area of a grain is measured, and the influence of microstructure on crack initiation is discussed.