Alice Chlupová

Low Cycle Fatigue of Cast Superalloy Inconel 738LC at High Temperature

Cylindrical specimens of cast polycrystalline nickel base superalloy Inconel 738LC were cyclically strained under total strain control at 23 and 800 °C to fracture. Cyclic hardening/softening curves, cyclic stress-strain curves, and fatigue life curves were obtained at both temperatures. Surface relief was studied in specimens fatigued to failure using scanning electron microscopy. Cyclic hardening/softening behaviour depends both on temperature and strain amplitude. Low amplitude straining was characterized by saturation of the stress amplitude. In high amplitude straining a pronounced hardening was found which was followed by saturation at room temperature and by cyclic softening at 800 °C. The cyclic stress-strain curves can be fitted by power law. They are shifted to lower stresses with increasing temperature. Fatigue life curves can be approximated by the Manson- Coffin and Basquin laws. The Manson-Coffin and Basquin curves are shifted to lower lives with increasing temperature. Slip markings were detected on specimen surface at all test temperatures. When temperature grows the density of slip markings is reduced.

Analysis of the Effective and Internal Cyclic Stress Components in the Inconel Superalloy Fatigued at Elevated Temperature

Cyclic multiple step test in strain control have been performed on cylindrical specimens of cast polycrystalline Inconel 738LC and 792-5A superalloys at 800 °C in laboratory atmosphere. Hysteresis loops were analyzed according to the statistical theory of hysteresis loop. The effective and internal stress components were evaluated. The effective stress of γ´ precipitate has significant influence on the stress-strain response both materials. The stress amplitude in IN 792-5A is higher than in IN 738LC at approximately same total strain amplitude due to significantly higher effective stress of γ´ phase. Cyclic hardening/softening curves and cyclic stress-strain curves using short-cut procedure were obtained. Cyclic hardening/softening behavior depends both on temperature and strain amplitude. Low amplitude straining is characterized by the saturation of the stress amplitude. In high amplitude straining slight softening was found. The cyclic stress-strain curves for both materials can be fitted by power law. Cyclic stress-strain response in terms of internal and effective stress components is discussed in relation to microstructural parameters of the materials. The observation of surface relief revealed the presence of persistent slip markings.

Cyclic Deformation of a Modern TiAl Alloy at High Temperatures

Ternary TiAl alloy with 8 at.% Nb and lamellar microstructure is subjected to low cycle fatigue tests at temperatures ranging from room temperature to 800 °C. The aim of the study is to find limit conditions when the microstructure is still stable and to study mechanisms of microstructural degradation when this limit is exceeded. Up to 750 °C, no cyclic softening or hardening is observed and cyclic stress-strain curve follows the tensile curve. Cyclic softening is characteristic for 800 °C. The TEM observation did not reveal any substantial changes in the microstructure due to the cycling up to 700°C. The lamellar structure is altered by cyclic straining at 750 °C and, to a higher extent, at 800°C. In specimens cycled to fracture at 800 °C, the domains without lamellar structure cover about 10% of volume and are almost dislocation free. The destruction of lamellar microstructure is the reason for the marked cyclic softening at 800 °C.

Fatigue Crack Initiation and Early Growth in GLARE 3 Fiber-metal Laminate Subjected to Mixed Tensile and Bending Loading

A special open-hole sheet specimen of GLARE fiber-metal laminate was used to simulate mixed loading similar to the loading of a riveted hole in a real fuselage skin structure. The effect of cyclic tension and secondary bending loading was studied. The notch region was observed through a microscope in order to detect the first fatigue crack initiation during fatigue loading. The number of cycles prior to crack initiation was measured, and the crack growth rate in the surface layer of the laminate was evaluated. The specimens were subjected to fatigue damage investigation in the inner layers of the laminate after termination of the test. A significant effect of secondary bending on fatigue crack initiation and early crack growth was found. The experimental results are discussed in terms of local stress-strain conditions in the notch region evaluated by means of finite element calculation.

Effect of Alloying and Thermal Processing on Mechanical Properties of TiAl Alloys

Two γ-based TiAl alloys with 7 at.% of Nb, alloyed with 2 at.% Mo and 0.5 at.% C, were studied. A heat treatment leading to very fine lamellar microstructure was applied on both alloys. Microstructure after the heat treatment was described and mechanical properties including fatigue behaviour were measured. The as-received material alloyed with C possesses high strength and very limited ductility, especially at RT. After application of selected heat treatment it becomes even more brittle; therefore, this process could be considered as not appropriate for this alloy. On the contrary, in the case of Mo alloyed material, both strength and ductility are improved by the heat treatment at RT and usual working temperature (~750 °C). Presence of the β phase is responsible for this effect. The selected heat treatment thus can be an alternative for this alloy to other thermomechanical treatments as high temperature forging.

Cyclic plastic response of nickel-based superalloy at room and at elevated temperatures*

Abstract Nickel-based cast IN 738LC superalloy has been cycled at increasing strain amplitudes at room temperature and at 800 °C. Hysteresis loops were analyzed using general statistical theory of the hysteresis loop. Dislocation structures of specimens cycled at these two temperatures were studied. They revealed localization of the cyclic plastic strain in the thin bands which are rich in dislocations. The analysis of the loop shapes yields effective stresses of the matrix and of the precipitates and the probability density function of the critical internal stresses at both temperatures. It allows to find the sources of the high cyclic stress.