Effect of ratcheting deformation on fatigue and creep-fatigue life of 316FR stainless steel

Components of fast breeder reactor (FBR) plants will be subjected to large thermal load, and progressive deformation with loading cycles (ratcheting) and creep-fatigue damage should be considered in their design. To clarify the effect of ratcheting on fatigue and creep-fatigue life, a series of fatigue and creep-fatigue tests coupled with strain progress were carried out for 316FR stainless steel. It was found that tensile ratcheting decreases the failure life to a large extent at small strain range, while compressive ratcheting does not decrease the failure life. Measurement of striation intervals on fracture surface showed small influence of strain increment on the crack propagation rate, suggesting that the main cause of the life reduction is the decrease in the crack initiation life. It was also found that failure life in various conditions is correlated well with a product of strain range and tensile peak stress. (C) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.