Papers by Author: Yi Zhu He

Abstract: Low-cycle fatigue (LCF) tests were performed with different strain amplitudes from 0.4% to 1.2% at room temperature (RT) to investigate fatigue life and fracture morphology of TP347H austenitic stainless steels. The results show that there is initial cyclic hardening for a few cycles, followed by continuous softening until fatigue failure at all strain amplitudes in stress response curves. The fatigue life of the steels follows the strain-life Coffin-Manson law. Fracture morphology shows that fatigue cracks initiate from the specimen free surface instead of the interior of the specimen, and ductile fracture appears during LCF loading. More sites of crack initiation and quicker propagation rate of fatigue crack at high strain amplitudes than those at low strain amplitudes are responsible for reduced fatigue life with the increasing of strain amplitude.

Abstract: As a solid solution matrix alloy, nickel-based alloys have the shortcomings that the strength will decrease with increasing temperature. The significance of this experiment is forming the two-phase matrix, in which γ- Ni solid solution are replaced partly by Ni₃Al with potential performance at high temperature. In this paper, no visible cracks and pores Ni₃Al/γ- Ni composite matrix coatings were prepared on mild steel substrate by laser cladding with mixed powders of two common thermal spying powders of Ni60AAA alloy and Ni-coated Al. The microstructure and phase constitution of the coating were studied through SEM, EDX and x-Ray diffraction analysis technique. The results show the composite coating consists of γ- Ni, Ni₃Al, Cr₂₃C₆ and CrB, both the main matrix γ- Ni solid solution and the second matrix phase of Ni₃Al being free uniformity dendrite and containing some alloying elements such as Fe, Cr, Si, etc,with the dendrites surrounded continuously by the eutectic. It may be possible for improving high-temperature performance.

Abstract: Ni-Al intermetallic compound coatings no visible cracks, pores or inclusions are prepared on mild steel substrate by Laser- cladding in situ synthesis with mixed powders of nickel-coated aluminum, Ni-based alloy and Al. The results show that the microstructure of the coating consists mainly of two phases of NiAl and Ni₃Al, and the former amount is more than the latter, with NiAl being uniformity and staggered fine dendrites which are surrounded continuously by Ni₃Al, and the atom ratios of Ni∶Al∶Fe∶Si in NiAl and Ni₃Al are respectively 54∶39∶2∶5 and 70∶21∶3∶6. Compared with cladding nickel-coated aluminum, the coatings quality are improved, and the dilution of iron from substrate into coating are greatly reduced, as a result of lower cladding powers due to self-fluxing of Ni-based alloy and exothermic reaction between Ni and Al. The hardness of coatings are up to HV490-HV540.

Abstract: The hardening behavior of the welding heat affected zone (HAZ) with different heat input for 500MPa grade screw thread steel is investigated in this paper. The single welding thermal cycle was applied to the test steel by a Gleeble-3500 thermal simulator. With the definition of hardness ratio, relative hardness factor and partial hardness zone, the HAZ Max hardness, hardness distribution and hardness mechanism of steel were analyzed. The results show that the HAZ hardness is always higher than the base steel hardness. The hardness ratio is increasing with the heat input decreased. The distribution of relative hardness factor of HAZ can be expressed by the Avrami equation which can describe the distribution of HAZ hardness. The width of partial hardness zone increases rapidly with the heat input increased. But at a certain degree of heat input, the width of partial hardness decreases slightly. The microstructure generated by heat input is the intrinsic factor of the HAZ hardness variation. The HAZ hardness enhances as the martensite content increases. On the contrary the HAZ hardness reduces as the ferrite content enhance on condition the heat input increase or the observed area is far away from the HAZ.

Abstract: This paper proposes an integrated model for the prediction of the pass-by-pass evolution of the austenite grain size of the ribbed steel bar hot rolling. The integrated model consists of a strain model, a temperature model, a microstructure evolution model of austenite grain size and a flow stress model. Hot rod rolling experiments are conducted to examine the proposed analytical models. The integrated model is employed to examine the effects of modifications of the refined austenite grain size of the 500MPa ribbed steel bar. Refinement of ferrite could be realized by refining the austenite grain size at the final pass.

Abstract: This paper proposes a semi-analytical method for the prediction of rolling force for rod rolling. The grooves of the passes are oval-round and round-oval. The mathematical model of rolling force is based on Shinkura and Takai’s model, but incorporates the effects of recrystallization and the alloy elements. Hot rod rolling experiments are conducted to examine the proposed semi-analytical method. The predicting values are compared with the mill log data, and they agree excellently over the whole rolling course. The predictions indicate that recrystallization affects the resistance of the material during hot rod rolling.

Abstract: The NiCoFeCrAl3 high entropy alloy coating with a little addition of C, Si, Mn, Mo has been succesively synthesized by laser cladding. The results show that simple solution phases of ordered BCC and a small fraction of FCC are obtained with fine equaixed dendrites morphology. Because the fine grain strengthening obtained by rapid solidification and the additived small atomic elements like C, Si further increase the distortion of the solid solution lattice, The microhardness of the coating reached above 800 HV and is 50 % higher than previous study on the similar composition by arc melting technique.