Fatigue crack propagation in Ni-base superalloy single crystals under multiaxial cyclic loads

Abstract

The effects of crystallographic orientation and stress state on the multiaxial fatigue behavior of MAR-M200* single crystals were examined. Using notched tubular specimens subjected to combined tension/torsion cyclic loads, crack growth rates were determined at ambient temperature as functions of stress intensity range, the shear stress range-to-normal stress range ratio, and crystallographic orientation. Comparison of crack growth data at the same effective ΔK reveals a weak dependence of the crack growth rate on both the tube axis and the notch orientation. For a given set of tube axis and notch orientation, the crack growth rate might or might not vary with the applied stress state, depending on whether roughness-induced crack closure is present. In most cases, subcritical cracking occurs either along a single 111 slip plane or on ridges formed with two 111 slip planes. Neither fracture mode is altered by a change in the applied stress state. This complex crack growth behavior will be discussed in terms of the crack-tip stress field, slip morphology, and crack closure.