Low Cycle Fatigue Behaviour of Austenitic Stainless Steel at Cyrogenic Temperature

Abstract

Low-cycle fatigue behaviour of 304 stainless steel has been studied at 20°C and -196°C. The results obtained are summarized as follows:
(1) The low-cycle fatigue life depends on the mechanical properties which change according to the amount of α'-martensite induced by increasing number of fatigue cycles.
(2) The low-cycle fatigue life curves (Δ_εt/2-N_f) obtained agree fairly with the curves calculated by Manson's equation.
(3) The fatigue cracks initiates at about 20% of the fatigue life at 20°C, while it initiates at about 70% of the fatigue life at -196°C.