Influence of surface morphology on the very high cycle fatigue behavior of metastable and stable austenitic Cr-Ni steels

The present study investigates conventional and cryogenically turned specimens of metastable austenitic steel AISI 347 and stable austenitic steel AISI 904L in the VHCF regime. The cryogenic turning process includes cooling by CO2 snow and generates a surface layer on the specimens of metastable austenitic steel, which is characterized by a phase transformation from paramagnetic fcc - austenite to ferromagnetic bcc - martensite and grain refinement. The stable austenitic steel retains its purely austenitic structure after cryogenic turning, but also shows grain refinement in the surface layer. The specimens with different surface morphology were cyclically loaded at ambient temperature using an ultrasonic fatigue testing system developed and built at the authors’ institute. The testing machine operates at frequencies of approx. 20 kHz to achieve high numbers of load cycles within a reasonable time. To avoid self heating of the specimen, the tests were performed in pulse-pause mode. All specimens were tested with a load ratio of R = -1. During cyclic loading, the metastable austenitic steel partially transformed from paramagnetic fcc - austenite to ferromagnetic bcc - martensite, while no phase transformation could be detected in the stable austenitic steel

Influence of surface morphology on the very high cycle fatigue behavior of metastable and stable austenitic Cr-Ni steels

The present study investigates conventional and cryogenically turned specimens of metastable austenitic steel AISI 347 and stable austenitic steel AISI 904L in the VHCF regime. The cryogenic turning process includes cooling by CO2 snow and generates a surface layer on the specimens of metastable austenitic steel, which is characterized by a phase transformation from paramagnetic fcc - austenite to ferromagnetic bcc - martensite and grain refinement. The stable austenitic steel retains its purely austenitic structure after cryogenic turning, but also shows grain refinement in the surface layer. The specimens with different surface morphology were cyclically loaded at ambient temperature using an ultrasonic fatigue testing system developed and built at the authors’ institute. The testing machine operates at frequencies of approx. 20 kHz to achieve high numbers of load cycles within a reasonable time. To avoid self heating of the specimen, the tests were performed in pulse-pause mode. All specimens were tested with a load ratio of R = -1. During cyclic loading, the metastable austenitic steel partially transformed from paramagnetic fcc - austenite to ferromagnetic bcc - martensite, while no phase transformation could be detected in the stable austenitic steel

Metastability and fatigue behavior of austenitic stainless steels

This study presents the results of a detailed investigation of metastability and susceptibility to deformation induced α’-martensite formation of several austenitic steels (AISI 304, AISI 321, AISI 348 and two batches from AISI 347) in the solution-annealed state. Besides conventional characterization of metastability by calculating stacking-fault energy and threshold temperature (designated as MS and Md30), the present work introduced a new method for determining susceptibility to α’-martensite formation. The method was based on dynamically applied local plastic deformation and non-destructive micro-magnetic measurement of α’-martensite content. The parameter Iξ was established, which correlated very well with the grade of α’-martensite formation during cyclic loading. The cyclic deformation and phase transformation behavior of cyclically loaded specimens from different metastable austenitic steels were investigated in total-strain and stress controlled fatigue tests with load ratio R = -1 at ambient temperature. The influence of the strain rate on the cyclic deformation and phase transformation behavior was also examined. During the fatigue tests, besides stress-strain hysteresis and temperature measurement, in situ micro-magnetic measurements were performed. Using the compressive measured data, the influence of plastic induced self-heating of the specimen and the strain rate on α’-martensite formation was analyzed

Metastability and fatigue behavior of austenitic stainless steels

This study presents the results of a detailed investigation of metastability and susceptibility to deformation induced α’-martensite formation of several austenitic steels (AISI 304, AISI 321, AISI 348 and two batches from AISI 347) in the solution-annealed state. Besides conventional characterization of metastability by calculating stacking-fault energy and threshold temperature (designated as MS and Md30), the present work introduced a new method for determining susceptibility to α’-martensite formation. The method was based on dynamically applied local plastic deformation and non-destructive micro-magnetic measurement of α’-martensite content. The parameter Iξ was established, which correlated very well with the grade of α’-martensite formation during cyclic loading. The cyclic deformation and phase transformation behavior of cyclically loaded specimens from different metastable austenitic steels were investigated in total-strain and stress controlled fatigue tests with load ratio R = -1 at ambient temperature. The influence of the strain rate on the cyclic deformation and phase transformation behavior was also examined. During the fatigue tests, besides stress-strain hysteresis and temperature measurement, in situ micro-magnetic measurements were performed. Using the compressive measured data, the influence of plastic induced self-heating of the specimen and the strain rate on α’-martensite formation was analyzed

Fatigue Behavior of Metastable Austenitic Stainless Steels in LCF, HCF and VHCF Regimes at Ambient and Elevated Temperatures

Corrosion resistance has been the main scope of the development in high-alloyed low carbon austenitic stainless steels. However, the chemical composition influences not only the passivity but also significantly affects their metastability and, consequently, the transformation as well as the cyclic deformation behavior. In technical applications, the austenitic stainless steels undergo fatigue in low cycle fatigue (LCF), high cycle fatigue (HCF), and very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) regime at room and elevated temperatures. In this context, the paper focuses on fatigue and transformation behavior at ambient temperature and 300 °C of two batches of metastable austenitic stainless steel AISI 347 in the whole fatigue regime from LCF to VHCF. Fatigue tests were performed on two types of testing machines: (i) servohydraulic and (ii) ultrasonic with frequencies: at (i) 0.01 Hz (LCF), 5 and 20 Hz (HCF) and 980 Hz (VHCF); and at (ii) with 20 kHz (VHCF). The results show the significant influence of chemical composition and temperature of deformation induced α´-martensite formation and cyclic deformation behavior. Furthermore, a “true” fatigue limit of investigated metastable austenitic stainless steel AISI 347 was identified including the VHCF regime at ambient temperature and elevated temperatures

Investigation of austenitic TRIP steels by means of a phase field model

Austenitic TRansformation Induced Plasticity (TRIP) steels offer an outstanding combination of formability and strength. Using Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) technique, the grain orientation and morphology of f.c.c. and b.c.c. phases can be clearly detected in initial state and at definite strains 2. In order to qualify the driving mechanisms of phase transformations occuring during deformation of metastable austenites, e.g. TRIP steels, a phase field model is used. For the modelling, we follow 6. The field equations are solved using the finite element method with bi-linear shape functions and 4-node elements. Features of this model are demonstrated by illustrative numerical examples

Generation of deformation-induced martensite when cryogenic turning various batches of the metastable austenitic steel AISI 347

Cryogenic turning of metastable austenitic steels allows for a surface layer hardening integrated into the machining process, which renders a separate hardening process obsolete. This surface layer hardening is the result of a superposition of strain hardening mechanisms and deformation-induced phase transformation from austenite to martensite. The activation energy required for the latter depends on the chemical composition of the metastable austenitic steel. It can hence be expected that the austenitic stability of the workpiece material varies depending on the batch and that differences in the metallurgical surface layer properties and thus also in the microhardness result after cryogenic turning. Therefore, in this paper, various batches of the metastable austenitic steel AISI 347 were turned utilizing cryogenic cooling with the same machining parameters. The thermomechanical load during the experiments was characterized and the resulting subsurface properties were investigated. The content of deformation-induced α′-martensite was quantified via magnetic sensor measurements and the distribution was examined using optical micrographs of etched cross-sections. It was found that similar amounts of deformation-induced α′-martensite were generated in the workpiece surface layer for all batches examined. Furthermore, the workpieces were analyzed with regard to the maximal hardness increase and the hardness penetration depth based on microhardness measurements. A significant surface layer hardening was achieved for all batches. This shows that surface layer hardening integrated in the manufacturing process is possible regardless of batch-dependent differences in the chemical composition and thus varying austenite stability of the metastable austenitic steel