Advanced Materials Research Vols. 891-892

Abstract: Cyclic plastic straining in crystalline materials is localized to persistent slip bands (PSBs) and results in formation of persistent slip markings (PSMs) consisting of extrusions and intrusions. Intensive plastic strain in PSBs results in dislocation interactions and formation of point defects. The extended model based on point defect formation, migration and annihilation is presented describing surface relief formation in the form of extrusion-intrusion pairs. Point defect migration and resulting mass transfer is the principle source of cyclic slip irreversibility leading to crack-like defects - intrusions. Fatigue cracks start in the tip of sharp intrusions.

Abstract: Duplex Stainless Steel is prone to the 475°C embrittlement, which leads to a change of the material properties. In this study the change in the cyclic stress-strain behavior was analyzed in room temperature fatigue tests in a condition without embrittlement and after annealing at 475°C for various times (different degrees of embrittlement), giving different degrees of pre-embrittlement. In the cyclic deformation curves a stronger softening with increasing degree of the embrittlement can be seen after an initial stage of cyclic hardening. In order to characterize the separation of the cyclic plastic deformation between the ferritic and austenitic phase of Duplex Stainless Steel the yield stress distribution function of the statistical treatment of the Masing model was used. For an automatic calculation of these individual yield stress distribution functions suitable mathematical distributions were selected and applied. The development of the distributions with the degree of embrittlement and the number of loading cycles reflect the microstructural changes in both phases.

Abstract: Using a low temperature turning process with carbon dioxide cooling in the cutting zone a variation of the morphology at the specimen surfaces of the metastable austenitic steel AISI 347 was realized. In LCF and HCF fatigue tests at ambient temperature and 300 °C the influence of the surface morphology on the cyclic deformation behavior and fatigue life was investigated by the measurement of stress-strain hysteresis. An additional magnetic measurement allows the characterization of the phase transformation from paramagnetic austenite in ferromagnetic α´-martensite during the turning processes and during cyclic loading. The surface morphology was studied in detail by SEM and x-ray investigations.

Abstract: Systematic experimental investigation was carried out to examine the cyclic deformation response and study the crack nucleation mechanisms under pure compression fatigue condition using OFHC Cu. Results show that the cyclic stress strain response and micro-structural evolution of copper under pure compression fatigue exhibits rather dissimilar responses compared to those under general push-pull fatigue conditions. Both rapid hardening and the compressive cyclic creep were observed in all tested conditions. Like under all fatigue conditions, surface micro-structural changes were detected by optical, SEM, and specifically AFM. It was revealed that cyclic plastic strain accommodated by the sample was not in any major way through dislocation activities, as there was only moderate slip activities observed on the surface and no PSB features were detected from TEM observations. Instead, cyclic creep was observed to be the major form of plastic strain accommodation. In addition, the observed surface phenomenon was found to have led to the eventual crack nucleation when the applied stress amplitude was high.

Abstract: LCF/HCF strength of precipitation hardening alloys is primarily controlled by its heat treatment condition. However, for a nickel-based superalloy and a wrought aluminium alloy it will be shown, that the VHCF behavior cannot solely be explained by the precipitation morphology. Damage accumulation is dominated by microstructure related slip localization, grain morphology and microstructural flaws. In contrast to the LCF behavior, the prediction of cyclic strength in the VHCF regime requires a detailed analysis of the competing microstructural crack initiating characteristics. Hence, new fatigue life prediction models have to be developed, which consider a statistical analysis of the failure-relevant inhomogeneities. In the case of the two materials studied, VHCF behavior is dominated by isolated and inhomogeneously distributed irreversible slip accompanied by a low dislocation density. The formation of single slip bands in favorably oriented grains in Nimonic 80A results in a decrease of the VHCF strength for the peak-aged condition. The overaged condition shows better VHCF strength due to a more homogeneous distribution of slip bands, as dislocations pile up at the overaged precipitates due to the very low strain amplitudes, while in the LCF regime the Orowan mechanism results in a weaker cyclic strength compared to the peak-aged condition. Crack initiation of the aluminium alloy EN AW-6082 on the one hand depends on the size and distribution of primary intermetallic particles of the Al-Fe-type acting as local stress raiser embedded in a strong matrix in case of the peak-aged condition. In contrast, such stress peaks are less failure-relevant due to the softer solid solution depleted matrix. Hence, the heat treatment alone does not define VHCF behavior.

Abstract: The formation and the three-dimensional shape of slip bands in a fatigued dual phase steel were analyzed with the purpose of understanding the relation between fatigue crack initiation and the topography development on the specimen surface. Fatigue tests with small dog-bone-shaped specimens were conducted under fully reversed axial loading (R = -1) with a constant stress amplitude and were interrupted when the first slip bands occurred and at defined numbers of load cycles, respectively. Subsequently the surface topography of the specimen was investigated with a white light interferometer with hundredfold magnification and high numerical aperture (NA = 0.9) which allows analyzing the surface of individual grains. The results were confirmed by additional atomic force microscopy measurements. Based on this analysis the height, width and length of the slip bands are known at different stages of the fatigue process. The results obtained using white light interferometry and AFM, were checked by cutting individual slip bands with the help of focused ion beam thus revealing the true shape of the slip bands.

Abstract: The correlation between the microstructure, the mechanical properties and the fatigue life of the common aluminum cast alloy Al-7Si-0.3Mg (A356) was investigated. By variation the solution heat treatment temperatures and times the precipitation strengthening effect in the dendritic aluminum solid solution phase and the spheroidization of the eutectic silicon were modified. The results of fully reversed fatigues tests revealed an increase in the fatigue life of specimens that were heat treated at higher temperatures. This observation was supported by analyzing the fatigue crack propagation behavior using the direct current potential drop technique (DCPD). With (i) increasing heat treatment temperature, i.e., increasing dendritic α-Al strength and (ii) roundness of the eutectic silicon particles the resistance to technical fatigue crack initiation, expressed by the threshold value of the stress intensity range K_th, was shifted to higher values.

Abstract: Because of the progress in cementitious composites material engineering, modern concrete structures are designed as more slender in comparison to previous years. For structures subjected to cyclic loadings it means higher stress ranges and thus higher probability of fatigue failure. These types of structures are often located in places of severe environment (bridges, crane tracks in chemical plants etc.). The paper presents an experimental research focused on the effect of coupled deterioration by aggressive environment and cyclic loading on the concrete specimens. The evaluation of the deteriorative effect of aggressive environment is based on kinetics of chemical reaction between concrete and aggressive solution of hydrochloric acid.

Abstract: This study was performed in support of accurate notch plasticity analysis under variable amplitude loads. Monotonic and cyclic strain-controlled tests were performed on flat dog-bone coupons machined from 6.35mm thick 7075-T651 aluminium alloy plates. The tests with low-high-low strain amplitude transitions revealed both an instant softening following the high strain amplitude cycle and a gradual recovery during the subsequent low strain amplitude cycles. The transition from monotonic-like to hysteresis-like material behaviour was found to be consistent with an overload induced softening and recovery process. A conceptual consideration is thus proposed to unify the characterisation of monotonic and hysteresis material properties. The implications of the present finding on notch plasticity analysis are also discussed.

Abstract: Life of an aero-engine is limited by the life of the turbine blade in particular and that of hot end components in general. Design of aero-engine is always conservative in nature considering the flight safety as paramount important. Earlier engines have been assigned life in hours but the life of the component is limited by LCF cycles particularly during the start-stop cycles. In this paper LCF behaviour of a typical Russian origin nickel base wrought super alloy AP220BD used for turbine blade has been studied at room temperature (RT), 400 °C and 700 °C that corresponds to idle rating and cruise rating of a typical aero-engine. Low cycle fatigue (LCF) tests have been carried out at RT, 400°C and 700 °C at three strain amplitudes of ±0.3%, ±0.5% and ±0.8%. Hysteresis loop have been developed at each strain and temperature. It has been observed that LCF life of the nickel base wrought alloy AP220BD is not influenced significantly at strain amplitude of ±0.3% till it reaches 400° C. Reduction in LCF life with increase in strain amplitude from ±0.3% to ±0.8% is much significant compared to that of increase in temperature up to 700°c.The higher life at intermediate strain of ±0.5% may be due to DSA(dynamic strain aging) of the material. Transgranular fracture has been observed at RT & 400° C while intergranular fracture at 700° C.