Influence of Temperature on Low Cycle Fatigue and Ratcheting Behavior of SA333 Gr-6 C-Mn Steel

Abstract

The aim of this investigation is to study the influence of temperature on the cyclic plastic deformation behavior of SA333 Gr-6 steel at two loading conditions. Strain-controlled cyclic loading experiments were carried out at ± 0.5% total strain amplitude, 1×10-3 s-1 strain rate, and temperature varied from RT to 400°C, whereas stress controlled ratcheting experiments were conducted at fixed mean stress (σm) of 50 MPa and stress amplitude (σa) of 400 MPa, 115 MPa s-1 stress rate, and in the temperature range of RT to 350°C. The investigated steel shows cyclic hardening characteristic at DSA temperature regime in both the loading condition. The steel shows lower fatigue lives at 250°C and 300°C temperatures even though plastic strain amplitude is smaller. The ratcheting life of the steel increases and strain accumulation decreases with the increase in temperature up to 300°C and on further increment in temperature ratcheting life get decreased. The steel shows greater cyclic hardening at both the loading conditions at 300°C.