Load Relaxation Behavior of Metastable Austenitic Stainless Steels at Quasi-Static Strain Rates

Abstract

Instantaneous strain rate sensitivity of metastable austenitic stainless steel EN 1.4318 was studied at quasi-static strain rates (2 × 10−4 ... 10−1 s−1) using load relaxation tests carried out at room temperature. The results indicate that at the studied deformation conditions the instantaneous strain rate sensitivity of the test material decreases with decreasing strain rate but increases with increasing plastic strain. Rapid strain aging was also observed to occur at the studied deformation conditions.