Effect of torsional pre-strain on low cycle fatigue performance of 304 stainless steel

Uniaxial tensile tests and low cycle fatigue tests were performed on 304 stainless steel treated with different torsional pre-strains. The relationship between torsional pre-strain and mechanical properties is established. Furthermore, the changes in the amount of martensite phase transitions are measured during low cycle fatigue tests and after specimen fracture are observed. This is mainly because martensitic transformation is a frequent phenomenon during plastic deformation, which is closely related to the mechanical properties. In this study, it is found that torsional pre-strain increases yield strength and reduces elongation. The ductility of 304 stainless steel decreases with the increase of torsional pre-strain, while its fatigue life does not. As the amplitude of torsional pre-strain increases, the fatigue life of the material changes in s-type. In particular, the fatigue life increases when the torsional pre-strain is between 5% and 8%. From the analysis of the microcosmic distribution of the martensite, it is found that the fatigue life is affected by the combined action of martensite transformation and ductility. The test results suggest that it should skip the relatively dangerous small strain area when improving mechanical properties of 304 stainless steel by way of changing shear pre-strain.