Fatigue and fracture behavior of U-6 wt. pct. Nb

Abstract

The fatigue and fracture properties of U6Nb were measured to provide the materials property data needed for structural designs in material processed by solution quenching and aging 200 C/2h. Limited testing was also performed on as-quenched U6Nb. The authors have extended the database on fatigue properties in U6Nb to include both crack initiation data and crack propagation data. The static load carrying capabilities have been characterized through fracture toughness and tensile property measurements. Using a rotating beam fatigue machine, a fatigue strength of 248 MPa was measured at 10{sup 8} cycles for smooth bars at zero mean load. As is typical of nonferrous alloys, U6Nb does not exhibit a fatigue endurance limit. Reductions in fatigue strength for notched bars and for mean loads of 276 MPa and 483 MPa (70 ksi) were also determined. The predominant sites for fatigue crack initiation were identified as niobium carbide and uranium oxide inclusion clusters and the distribution of these inclusions are presented. Fatigue crack propagation rates were measured in the near-threshold regime using compact tension specimens. The fatigue threshold for crack growth rates below 10{sup {minus}7} mm/cycle were measured at both R = 0.1, for which a fatigue threshold of 3.2 MPa{radical}m wasmore » measured, and for constant Kmax cycles with Kmax values of 14.6 MPa{radical}m and 30.5 MPa{radical}m, for which the fatigue threshold was reduced to 0.9 MPa{radical} and 0.6 MPa{radical}m, respectively.« less