Effects of surface morphology on fatigue behavior of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel

Abstract Depending on the pulse lengths, the operating conditions, and the thermal conductivity, oscillating temperature gradients will cause elastic and elastic–plastic cyclic deformation giving rise to (creep-)fatigue in the structural first wall and blanket components of fusion systems. In order to perform an accurate fatigue lifetime assessment for the international thermonuclear experimental reactor-test blanket module (ITER–TBM) and advanced systems utilizing the existing data base, mechanical understanding of fatigue fracture is mandatory. In this work, the low cycle fatigue (LCF) properties of F82H IEA heat were examined for three kinds of surface morphology with miniaturized hourglass-type fatigue specimens (SF-1). The assumed fatigue lifetime of cooling channels for ITER-TBM was also compared and assessed by correlating the results of LCF tests performed with SF-1 type specimens. Fracture surfaces and crack initiation sites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).