Effect of strain wave shape on low-cycle fatigue crack propagation of SUS 304 stainless steel at elevated temperatures

Effect of strain wave shape on strain-controlled low-cycle fatigue crack propagation of SUS 304 stainless steel was investigated at 600 and 700/sup 0/C. It was found that the rate of crack propagation in a cycle-dependent region was successfully correlated with the range of cyclic J-integral, ..delta..J /SUB f/, regardless of the strain wave shape, frequency, and test temperature. It was also shown that the rate of crack propagation gradually increased from cycle-dependent curve to time-dependent one with decreasing frequency and slow-fast strain wave shape, and that one of the factors governing the rate of crack propagation in such a region was the ratio of the range of creep J-integral to that of total J-integral, ..delta..J /SUB c/ /..delta..J /SUB T/. Based on the results thus obtained, an interaction damage rule proposed semi-empirically was interpreted, with regard to crack propagation. Furthermore, fatigue crack initiation mechanism in slow-fast strain wave shape was studied, and it was shown that grain boundary sliding took an important role in it.