ABSTRACT
The temperature dependence of tensile characteristics and fracture toughness of the standardly heat-treated low-alloyed steel OCHN3MFA along with three additionally heat-treated grades was experimentally studied. In the temperature range of ⟨-196; 22⟩ °C, all the additional heat treatments transferred the standard steel from a high- to ultra-high strength levels even with improved tensile ductility characteristics. This could be explained by a reduction of the inclusion content, refinement of the martensitic blocks, ductile retained austenite content, and homogenization of the shape ratio of martensitic laths as revealed by metallographic, X-ray, and EBSD techniques. On the other hand, the values of the fracture toughness of all grades were found to be comparable in the whole temperature range as the cause of a high stress triaxiality in the pre-cracked Charpy V-notch samples. The values of the fracture toughness of the standard steel grade could be predicted well using the fracture model proposed by Pokluda et al. based on the tensile characteristics. Such a prediction failed in the case of additionally heat-treated grades due to the different temperature dependence of the fracture mechanisms occurring in the tensile and fracture-toughness tests. While the tensile samples fractured in a ductile-dimple mode at all temperatures, the fracture-toughness specimens exhibited a transition from the ductile to quasi-brittle fracture mode with decreasing temperature. This transition could be interpreted in terms of a transfer from the model proposed by Rice and Johnson to the model of Tvergaard and Hutchinson.
ABSTRACT
The fatigue properties of thermo-mechanically treated and machined aluminum alloy 7475-T7351 have been studied. The applied advanced machining strategy induced intensive plastic deformation on the machined surface under defined cutting conditions. Therefore, a detailed study of 3D surface topography was performed. Advanced characterization of the material structure and electron back scattered diffraction mapping of selected chemical phases were performed, as well as energy dispersive X-ray analysis of the surface. Advanced mechanical properties of the material were investigated in situ with a scanning electron microscope that was equipped with a unique tensile fixture. The fatigue results confirmed an evident dispersion of the data, but the mechanism of crack nucleation was established. Fracture surface analysis showed that the cracks nucleated at the brittle secondary particles dispersed in the material matrix. The surface topography of samples that had been machined in wide range of cutting/deformation conditions by milling has not proved to be a decisive factor in terms of the fatigue behavior. The incoherent interface and decohesion between the alumina matrix and the brittle secondary phases proved to significantly affect the ultimate strength of the material. Tool engagement also affected the fatigue resistance of the material.
