High cycle rotating bending fatigue performance and fracture behavior in a pearlite–ferrite dual-phase steel

• Published in: Journal of iron and steel research, international Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 519 - 528
• Main Authors: Ji, Xin-bo, Zhao, Si-xin, Fu, Li-ming, Peng, Jian, Gao, Jia-qiang, Yu, Da-jiang, Huang, Zong-ze, Shan, Ai-dang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Applied and Technical Physics; Engineering; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry; Processes; Ferrite content; Fracture characteristics; Pearlite–ferrite steel; Ferrite morphology; Fatigue performance
• ISSN: 1006-706X; 2210-3988
• DOI: 10.1007/s42243-021-00598-y

To clarify the effects of ferrite morphologies and contents on high-cycle fatigue property of pearlite–ferrite dual-phase (DP) steel used for fabrication of commercial vehicle crankshafts, two types of DP steels with different ferrite grain sizes (S10: 13.1 μm and S30: 21.4 μm) and ferrite contents (S10: ~ 9.5 vol.% and S30: ~ 30.4 vol.%) were prepared. Stress amplitude–logarithm of number of high cycles to failure fatigue of the two DP steels was evaluated. Experimental results showed a fatigue strength of 510 and 400 MPa for S10 and S30 steels, respectively, at 10 7 cycles. Fatigue cracks in S10 steel extended preferentially along the grain boundary, but it was easy for crack propagation to extend within a pearlite colony to form a zigzag crack morphology. Crack roughness was enhanced and high stress was introduced to the crack surface due to this kind of crack propagation behavior, which has positive effects on slowing down crack propagation. However, the crack propagation in S30 steel mainly occurred inside the soft equiaxed coarse ferrite grain. Analysis revealed that little stress was introduced to the crack surface. These results show that it is possible to improve high cycle fatigue strength of pearlite–ferrite DP steel by appropriately manipulating the volume fraction and microstructure morphology of ferrite phase.