Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Use of the nanoindentation technique for studying microstructure/crack interactions in the fatigue of 4340 steel

  • Published:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objectives of this research are to study the influence of microstructure on the fatigue crack growth behavior in 4340 steel and to explore the application of the nanoindentation technique for determining the plastic deformation zone at a fatigue crack tip. Two heat treatment conditions were chosen for the steel: annealed and quenched plus tempered. The annealed steel consists of coarse pearlite and proeutectoid ferrite, while the quenched and tempered steel consists of fine tempered martensite. Fatigue crack propagation tests were conducted on disklike compact (DCT) specimens. Subsequently, the nanoindentation technique was applied to quantitatively determine the plastic deformation zone at fatigue crack tips. The plastic deformation zone size determined by the nanoindentation test seems larger than the cyclic deformation zone calculated using the fracture mechanics equation, which involves many assumptions. The fatigue crack growth test results show that the annealed steel has a higher resistance to crack growth than the quenched and tempered steel. The fatigue crack in the annealed steel tends to grow along pearlite domain boundaries, or the cementite/ferrite interfaces within a pearlite domain. In contrast, the fatigue crack in the quenched and tempered steel tends to traverse the fine martensite laths. Consequently, the actual crack path in the annealed steel is rougher than in the quenched and tempered steel and more secondary cracks are observed in the annealed steel.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M.H. Swain, R.A. Everett, J.C. Newman, Jr., and E.P. Phillips: “The Growth of Short Cracks in 4340 Steel and Aluminum-Lithium 2090,” NASA Report N91-11247/4, NITS, Gaithersburg, MD, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  2. P.S. Pao: ASM Handbook, vol. 19, Fatigue and Fracture, ASM, Materials Park, OH, 1996, pp. 185–92.

    Google Scholar 

  3. ASM Handbook, vol. 19, Fatigue and Fracture, ASM, Materials Park, OH, 1996, pp. 614–54.

  4. R.W. Landgraf: ASM Handbook, vol. 19, Fatigue and Fracture, ASM, Materials Park, OH, 1996, pp. 603–13.

    Google Scholar 

  5. J.A. Bannantine, J.J. Comer, and J.L. Handrock: Fundamentals of Metal Fatigue Analysis, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  6. H. O’Neill: Hardness Measurement of Metals and Alloys, 2nd ed., Chapman and Hall Ltd., London, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  7. ASTM Standard E647-95a, “Standard Test Method for Measurement of Fatigue Crack Growth Rates,” Annual Book of ASTM Standards, ASTM, Philadelphia, PA, vol. 03.01, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  8. A. Saxena and C.L. Muhlstein: ASM Handbook, vol. 19, Fatigue and Fracture, ASM, Materials Park, OH, 1996, pp. 168–84.

    Google Scholar 

  9. ASM Handbook, vol. 19, Fatigue and Fracture, ASM, Materials Park, OH, 1996, pp. 964–79.

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Fan Yang (Postdoctoral Research Associate, Consultant)

    Present address: the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332-0245, Atlanta, GA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 20171, Fairfax, VA

    Fan Yang (Postdoctoral Research Associate, Consultant)

  2. the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 30332-0245, Atlanta, GA

    Ashok Saxena (Professor and Chair)

  3. the High Temperature Materials Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 37831-6062, Oak Ridge, TN

    Laura Riester (Scientist)

Authors
  1. Fan Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ashok Saxena
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Laura Riester
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yang, F., Saxena, A. & Riester, L. Use of the nanoindentation technique for studying microstructure/crack interactions in the fatigue of 4340 steel. Metall Mater Trans A 29, 3029–3036 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-998-0210-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-998-0210-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation