Abstract

This research concerns characterization of stainless steel SS-1672 with 0.46 wt.% carbon concentration, at room temperature with respect to mechanical properties and morphology. Specimens were divided into two groups according to heat treatment, and were hardened at three different temperatures (250, 450 and 650°C) to obtain different martensitic content. Hardness results are compared with those of the normalized condition and simulated by using the finite element method. The results show that hardness decrease with increasing martensitic content. Fatigue tests were performed and simulated by using the finite element method and fatigue life analyses by using the fatigue life prediction method in Ansys were carried out. One of the experiments survived 10⁶ cycles at applied stress 241 MPa. This indicates the endurance limit,σ_e, to be slightly above 240 MPa. The microstructure observed by optical microscopic andscanning electron microscope (SEM) showed pearlite and martinsite phases clearly distinguishable. Fractography studies also indicated the nature of typical fracture surfaces at low and high cycle fatigue.

Key words: Fatigue [(Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF) and high cycle fatigue (HCF)], stainless steel, morphology, toughness of metallic alloys.