Orientation Dependence of High Cycle Fatigue Behavior of a Oriented Single-Crystal Nickel-Based Superalloy

High cycle fatigue failure has been recognized as one of the major forms of failure of aero-engine blades. This paper presents the high cycle fatigue testing of a Ni-based superalloy near <111> orientation at 800 °C. The fracture morphology and dislocation configuration were analyzed in detail by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to indicate the influence of orientation deviation degree on the high cycle fatigue properties. The results show that the orientation deviation significantly affects the initiation of the slip systems, which is closely related to fatigue performance. The best fatigue life appears on the precise <111> orientation, and the deformation behavior is controlled by multiple sets of equivalent <110> {111} slip systems. With the increase in orientation deviation, the fatigue properties of the alloy degenerate significantly. On the boundary of <111>-<001>, two groups of <110> {111} slip systems with the maximum Schmid shear stress dominate the deformation behavior. On the other hand, on the <111>-<011> boundary, the formation of stacking faults and rapid cutting of γ’ precipitates results in a negative effect on the fatigue life.

Driving forces on dislocations: finite element analysis in the context of the non-singular dislocation theory

This work presents a regularized eigenstrain formulation around the slip plane of dislocations and the resultant non-singular solutions for various dislocation configurations. Moreover, we derive the generalized Eshelby stress tensor of the configurational force theory in the context of the proposed dislocation model. Based on the non-singular finite element solutions and the generalized configurational force formulation, we calculate the driving force on dislocations of various configurations, including single edge/screw dislocation, dislocation loop, interaction between a vacancy dislocation loop and an edge dislocation, as well as a dislocation cluster. The non-singular solutions and the driving force results are well benchmarked for different cases. The proposed formulation and the numerical scheme can be applied to any general dislocation configuration with complex geometry and loading conditions.

Creep Damage and Deformation Mechanism of a Directionally Solidified Alloy during Moderate-Temperature Creep

Through creep performance tests, microstructural observations, and contrast analysis of the dislocation configuration, the deformation and damage mechanism of the directionally solidified nickel-based superalloy during creep at moderate temperatures was investigated. The findings suggested that the deformation of the alloy in the late stage of creep at moderate temperatures involved dislocations slipping in the γ matrix and shearing into the γ′ phase. The super-dislocations sheared into the γ′ phase could either be decomposed to form a <112> super-Shockley incomplete dislocation plus superlattice intrinsic stacking fault (SISF) configuration, or it could slip from the {111} plane to the {100} plane and decompose to form a dislocation configuration of the Kear–Wilsdorf (K-W) lock plus antiphase domain boundary (APB). The configurations of the dislocations could inhibit the slipping and cross-slipping of dislocations to enhance the alloy creep strength, which is thought to be one reason that the alloy displayed good creep resistance. In the late creep stage, the primary/secondary slipping systems were alternately activated, and the interaction of the slipping traces caused micro-holes to appear on the interface of the γ/γ′ phases at the intersection areas of the two slipping systems. The micro-holes gathered and grew to form micro-cracks, which extended along the grain boundary at 45° to the stress axis until creep rupture occurred. These were the damage and fracture characteristics of the alloy in the late stage of creep at moderate temperatures.

Phase-Field Modeling of Chemoelastic Binodal/Spinodal Relations and Solute Segregation to Defects in Binary Alloys

Microscopic phase-field chemomechanics (MPFCM) is employed in the current work to model solute segregation, dislocation-solute interaction, spinodal decomposition, and precipitate formation, at straight dislocations and configurations of these in a model binary solid alloy. In particular, (i) a single static edge dipole, (ii) arrays of static dipoles forming low-angle tilt (edge) and twist (screw) grain boundaries, as well as at (iii) a moving (gliding) edge dipole, are considered. In the first part of the work, MPFCM is formulated for such an alloy. Central here is the MPFCM model for the alloy free energy, which includes chemical, dislocation, and lattice (elastic), contributions. The solute concentration-dependence of the latter due to solute lattice misfit results in a strong elastic influence on the binodal (i.e., coexistence) and spinodal behavior of the alloy. In addition, MPFCM-based modeling of energy storage couples the thermodynamic forces driving (Cottrell and Suzuki) solute segregation, precipitate formation and dislocation glide. As implied by the simulation results for edge dislocation dipoles and their configurations, there is a competition between (i) Cottrell segregation to dislocations resulting in a uniform solute distribution along the line, and (ii) destabilization of this distribution due to low-dimensional spinodal decomposition when the segregated solute content at the line exceeds the spinodal value locally, i.e., at and along the dislocation line. Due to the completely different stress field of the screw dislocation configuration in the twist boundary, the segregated solute distribution is immediately unstable and decomposes into precipitates from the start.

Effect of Primary α Phase Content on Creep Property of High Temperature Titanium Alloy

The effect of the primary α content and precipitate on the creep resistance of a high-temperature titanium alloy with a small amount of Hf addition were studied. The microstructures with different primary α contents were prepared by the heat treatment of 920~1010 °C /1 h+700 °C/5 h, and the creep test (600 °C/150 MPa/100 h) was carried out. The interaction between the precipitation phase and the dislocation configuration was analyzed. The results showed that with the increase of solution temperature, the volume fraction of primary α phase decreased from 44.9% at 920 °C to 0% at 1010 °C, and the steady state creep rate of the alloy decreased from 60.60×10-4%/h to 3.72×10-4%/h, indicating that the creep property was significantly improved with the decrease of solution temperature. The basket structure with optimal creep resistance was obtained under the heat treatment of 1010 °C/1 h+700 °C/5 h. It is believed that during the high temperature creep test, the precipitated α2 phase and the hafnium-containing silicide hinder the dislocation motion in α crystal and the phase boundary, thereby improving the creep resistance of the alloy.

Creep Damage of a Re/Ru-Containing Single Crystal Nickel-Based Superalloy at Elevated Temperature

By means of creep properties measurement, microstructure observation and contrast analysis of dislocation configuration, the creep behavior of a 4.5%Re/3.0%Ru-containing single crystal nickel-based superalloy at elevated temperature is investigated. Results show that the creep life of the alloy at 1040°C/160MPa is measured to be 725h to exhibit a better creep resistance at high temperature. In the primary stage of creep at high temperature, the γ phase in alloy has transformed into the N-type rafted structure along the direction vertical to the stress axis, the deformation mechanism of alloy during steady state creep is dislocations slipping in γ matrix and climbing over the rafted γ phase. In the latter period of creep, the deformation mechanism of alloy is dislocations slipping in γ matrix and shearing into the rafted γ phase. Wherein the dislocations shearing into the γ phase may cross-slip from {111} to {100} planes for forming the K-W locks to restrain the slipping and cross-slipping on {111} plane, which is thought to be the main reason of the alloy having a better creep resistance. As the creep goes on, the alternate slipping of dislocations results in the twisted of the rafted γ phase to promote the initiation and propagation of the cracks along the interfaces of γ/γ phase up to creep fracture, which is thought to be the damage and fracture mechanism of alloy during creep at high temperature.