Analysis of texture effects on fatigue behaviour of 316L stainless steel

The influence of crystallographic texture on cyclic behaviour, fatigue crack initiation and fatigue life of a 316L austenitic stainless steel was investigated in the low cycle fatigue range at room temperature. Specimens of five different orientations of the rolled sheet were compared to study different textures. It is shown that texture influences the stress-strain response of the material and the fatigue damage (crack density). Moreover, to study the influence of the environment on the fatigue behaviour and the coupling effects with crystallographic aspects, fatigue tests were performed in air and in vacuum. It is shown that the environment modifies both the total crack density and the ratio of transgranular to intergranular cracks. All results are discussed with regard to the relative fraction of < 111 > and < 100 > grains oriented for multiple slip or to the fraction of grains favouring single slip behaviour.