Macro- and micro-approach to locally multiaxial fatigue crack paths in oriented and non-oriented pearlitic microstructures

Abstract

This paper offers a macro- and micro-approach to locally multiaxial fatigue crack paths in oriented and non-oriented pearlitic microstructures, addressing the important role of microstructural evolution (orientation and packing closeness) during the manufacture process by cold drawing in the posterior fatigue performance of the pearlitic steel wires. Results show that fatigue crack paths are globally uniaxial (they develop in global mode I) in both oriented and non-oriented pearlitic microstructures, whereas such fatigue crack paths are locally multiaxial (they develop in local mixed-mode with a zig-zag shape) in the two mentioned microstructures, the degree of packing closeness and orientation affecting the microstructural features (micro-length and micro-deflection angle) of the fatigue crack path, thereby determining their distinct fatigue performance.