Role of dynamic strain ageing in low cycle fatigue

Abstract

Low cycle fatigue (LCF) at elevated temperatures is known to be influenced by time-dependent processes like creep, oxidation and metallurgical instabilities. Another time-dependent phenomenon namely, dynamic strain ageing (DSA) has been found to exert an influence on LCF behaviour at high temperatures. Research activities carried out in the present author's laboratory with a view to understanding the effects of DSA on LCF are highlighted in this paper. Occurrence of DSA manifests during total strain-controlled fatigue tests in the form of serrated plastic flow in stress-strain hysteresis loops, increased cyclic work hardening and reduced plastic strain range. Further, DSA causes localization of plastic flow leading to enhanced planarity of slip and widely-spaced slip bands. Impingement of slip bands on grain boundaries causes increased grain boundary decohesion, leading to reduced fatigue life. The influence of prior microstructure such as second phase particles and grain size on the effects of DSA on LCF is also discussed. © 1993 Indian Academy of Sciences.