In order to select a suitable specimen geometry for the evaluation of environment effect on fatigue property at HTGR temperatures, comparison was made between low-cycle fatigue strengths obtained for two types of specimens, solid cylindrical and hourglass specimens.
A set of low-cycle fatigue tests were carried out on Ni-base wrought alloy Inconel 617 at 800°C and 1000°C in air and helium 4-nine purity. Strain was measured by two types of extensometers;
(1) Hourglass specimen with a diametral extensometer, (2) Solid cylindrical specimen with a diametral extensometer, and (3) Solid cylindrical specimen with an axial extensometer. In all cases, the axial strain was controlled.
The life of the hourglass specimens was consistently longer than that of the solid cylindrical specimens in both environments. The life of test type (2) was nearly equal to that of type (1) in air, but in helium the life of type (2) was between those (1) and (3).
The effects of segregation and grain size on the specimen geometry were discussed. In the cases of the specimens machined at right angle to the segregation layer and those with fine grains, the difference of the lives obtained for two types of specimens increased.
Furthermore, the difference of crack initiation behaviors in air and helium was discussed. The internal oxidation layer and the decarburized zone were observed near the specimen surface in helium, and more surface cracks occured in helium than in air. These may be related to the larger difference in lives of two types of specimens in helium, compared to in air.
