The effect of transformation-induced microscopic residual stress on fatigue crack propagation behaviour of ferrite-martensite lamellar steel was discussed. Fatigue tests of prestrained and non-prestrained specimens were performed. Inflections and branches at ferrite-martensite boundaries were observed in the non-prestrained specimens. On the other hand, less inflections and branches were found in the prestrained specimens. The experimental results showed that the transformation induced microscopic residual stress has influence on the fatigue crack propagation behaviour. To estimate the microscopic residual stress distribution, a numerical simulation of microscopic residual stress induced by martensitic transformation was performed. The simulation showed that compressive residual stress was generated in martensite layer, and the result agree with the experimental result that inflections and branches were observed at ferrite-martensite boundaries. In addition, the change in the microscopic residual stress distribution by prestraining was also calculated to show the compressive residual stress changed to tensile by prestraining. This also agree with the experimental result of the observation of fatigue crack path.
Correlation between fractographic features of a mild steel specimen broken at a low temperature and microstructure. Effect of a drop in temperature.
