Comparative assessment of strain-controlled fatigue performance of SS 316L at room and low temperatures

In the present study, strain-controlled low cycle fatigue (LCF) behaviour of SS 316L at room temperature (RT) and-80 ? were investigated. RT LCF specimens show cyclic softening, whereas-80 ? specimens show initial cyclic softening followed by hardening due to strain-induced martensitic transformation (SIMT). Fatigue damage evolution mechanism is proposed for specimens tested at-80 ?, where compressive stresses develop due to SIMT and retards the crack growth. This leads to an increase in fatigue life for-80 ? specimens. An increase in back stress component at the initiation of secondary hardening is noticed for-80 ? specimens.

Automated summary

In this study, the strain-controlled low cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior of SS 316L at room temperature and -80℃ was investigated. It was found that the specimens at -80℃ exhibited initial cyclic softening followed by hardening due to strain-induced martensitic transformation (SIMT), resulting in an increase in fatigue life.