Part XII – December 1968 – Communications - Localized Microstructural Changes and Fatigue Crack Propagation

FATIGUE crack propagation in some aspects can be viewed as being a result of localized plastic deformation concentrated near the tip of the crack.' Deformation is influenced by microstructure which in turn can affect the fatigue crack growth significantly. To study the effect of localized microstructural changes on fatigue crack propagation, cantilever-type notched specimens were subjected to cyclic bending at constant load amplitude. The extent of fatigue crack propagation was obtained by measuring the length of the crack by periodic observation with a microscope on the polished side of the sample,2"4 and these data were used in preparing the curves in the figures which follow. Figs. 1 (solid lines) and 2 show experimental results obtained in austenitic type 302 stainless steel containing higher than standard carbon (0.24 pct C) and 310 stainless steel. Both steels were homogenized for 8 hr at 1120°C and then water-quenched in order to prevent the precipitation of carbides. Fig. 3 shows experimental results obtained on 9440 low alloy steel in the normalized condition and in the quenched and tempered (580°C) condition. Indications of microstructural influence can be seen in scattering of the experimental data. The degree of scattering depends on both the microstructure and the amount of cyclic stress applied to the sample. For microstructures which are more easily deformed plastically, e.g., normalized or annealed as compared with hardened and tempered structures, the scattering is greater. Similarly, higher stresses produce greater scattering in the results, regardless of whether the cause of the stress increase is due to initial loading conditions or the growth in crack length. Scattering is believed to be a result of partial redistribution in the stress field around the tip caused by plastic deformation. This opinion is borne out by much smaller scattering of experimental results in the austenitic 302 high-carbon (0.24 pct C) steel. In this steel, plastic deformation in the neighborhood of the crack causes partial mar-tensitic transformation of metastable austenite,5 which in turn restrains further plastic deformation. As a result, the stress redistribution around The tip is reduced. Partial martensitic transformation was confirmed