scholarly journals Mechanism of Fatigue Crack Initiation in Austenitic Stainless Steels in LWR Environments

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omesh K. Chopra
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Crack ◽  
Crack Initiation ◽  
Stainless Steels ◽  
Fatigue Cracks ◽  
Fatigue Crack Initiation ◽  
Austenitic Stainless Steels ◽  
Fracture Morphology ◽  
Fatigue Tests ◽  
Temperature Level ◽  
Metallographic Examination

This paper examines the mechanism of fatigue crack initiation in austenitic stainless steels (SSs) in light water reactor (LWR) coolant environments. The effects of key material and loading variables, such as strain amplitude, strain rate, temperature, level of dissolved oxygen in water, and material heat treatment on the fatigue lives of wrought and cast austenitic SSs in air and LWR environments have been evaluated. The influence of reactor coolant environments on the formation and growth of fatigue cracks in polished smooth SS specimens is discussed. Crack length as a function of fatigue cycles was determined in air and LWR environments. The results indicate that decreased fatigue lives of these steels are caused primarily by the effects of the environment on the growth of cracks <200 μm and, to a lesser extent, on enhanced growth rates of longer cracks. A detailed metallographic examination of fatigue test specimens was performed to characterize the fracture morphology. Exploratory fatigue tests were conducted to enhance our understanding of the effects of surface micropits or minor differences in the surface oxide on fatigue crack initiation.

Plastic Slip and Early Stage of Fatigue Damage in Polycrystals: Comparison between Experiments and Crystal Plasticity Finite Elements Simulations

2014 ◽  
Vol 891-892 ◽  
pp. 1711-1716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loic Signor ◽  
Emmanuel Lacoste ◽  
Patrick Villechaise ◽  
Thomas Ghidossi ◽  
Stephan Courtin
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Crack ◽  
Finite Elements ◽  
Crack Initiation ◽  
Fatigue Damage ◽  
Crystal Plasticity ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Low Cycle Fatigue ◽  
Fatigue Cracks ◽  
Fatigue Crack Initiation ◽  
Plastic Slip

For conventional materials with solid solution, fatigue damage is often related to microplasticity and is largely sensitive to microstructure at different scales concerning dislocations, grains and textures. The present study focuses on slip bands activity and fatigue crack initiation with special attention on the influence of the size, the morphology and the crystal orientation of grains and their neighbours. The local configurations which favour - or prevent - crack initiation are not completely identified. In this work, the identification and the analysis of several crack initiation sites are performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Electron Back-Scattered Diffraction. Crystal plasticity finite elements simulation is employed to evaluate local microplasticity at the scale of the grains. One of the originality of this work is the creation of 3D meshes of polycrystalline aggregates corresponding to zones where fatigue cracks have been observed. 3D data obtained by serial-sectioning are used to reconstruct actual microstructure. The role of the plastic slip activity as a driving force for fatigue crack initiation is discussed according to the comparison between experimental observations and simulations. The approach is applied to 316L type austenitic stainless steels under low-cycle fatigue loading.

Effect of Processing Layer on Fatigue Strength of Extruded AZ61 Magnesium Alloy

2013 ◽  
Vol 577-578 ◽  
pp. 429-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukio Miyashita ◽  
Kyohei Kushihata ◽  
Toshifumi Kakiuchi ◽  
Mitsuhiro Kiyohara
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Crack ◽  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Fatigue Strength ◽  
Magnesium Alloy ◽  
Crack Initiation ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Fatigue Crack Initiation ◽  
Fatigue Tests ◽  
Crack Growth Resistance ◽  
Az61 Magnesium Alloy

Fatigue Property of an Extruded AZ61 Magnesium Alloy with the Processing Layer Introduced by Machining was Investigated. Rotating Bending Fatigue Tests were Carried out with the Specimen with and without the Processing Layer. According to Results of the Fatigue Tests, Fatigue Life Significantly Increased by Introducing the Processing Layer to the Specimen Surface. Fatigue Crack Initiation and Propagation Behaviors were Observed by Replication Technique during the Fatigue Test. Fatigue Crack Initiation Life of the Specimen with the Processing Layer was Slightly Longer than that of the Specimen without the Processing Layer. Higher Fatigue Crack Growth Resistance was also Observed when the Fatigue Crack was Growing in the Processing Layer in the Specimen with the Processing Layer. the Longer Fatigue Life Observed in the Fatigue Test in the Specimen with the Processing Layer could be Mainly due to the Higher Crack Growth Resistance. it is Speculated that the Fatigue Strength can be Controlled by Change in Condition of Machining Process. it could be Effective way in Industry to Improved Fatigue Strength only by the Cutting Process without Additional Surface Treatment Process.

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