Influence of Microstructure on Low-Cycle and Extremely-Low-Cycle Fatigue Resistance of Low-Carbon Steels

The goals of this study were to quantify and explain the effects of microstructure on the resistance of low-carbon steels to low-cycle fatigue and to extremely low-cycle fatigue (ELCF). Three different microstructures (ferrite–pearlite, ferrite–martensite, and ferrite–bainite–martensite) were tested, and their fatigue properties were analyzed using the strain-based Coffin–Manson model and an energy-based model. According to the Coffin–Manson model, ferrite–pearlite showed the best ELCF resistance, whereas in the energy-based model that considers the effect of tensile strength ferrite–bainite–martensite revealed the highest ELCF resistance. At similar tensile strength, ferrite–bainite–martensite had longer ELCF life than ferrite–martensite; the difference may be a result of the smaller strain incompatibility between bainite and ferrite than between ferrite and martensite. In all three microstructures, cracks initiated at the surface and propagated into the interior; this result indicates that fracture mode was not altered during cyclic loading at high strain amplitudes. Ferrite–martensite microstructure developed many sub-cracks surrounding a main crack; they could facilitate propagation of a main crack, and thereby degrade fatigue life at high strain amplitudes.