J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2022, Vol. 113: 82-89.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2021.09.063

• Research article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A pathway to improve low-cycle fatigue life of face-centered cubic metals via grain boundary engineering

X.J. Guana,c, Z.P. Jiaa,c, S.M. Lianga,c, F. Shia,c, X.W. Lia,b,*()   

  1. aDepartment of Materials Physics and Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
    bState Key Laboratory of Rolling and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
    cKey Laboratory for Anisotropy and Texture of Materials, Ministry of Education, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
  • Received:2021-08-09 Revised:2021-09-01 Accepted:2021-09-01 Published:2021-12-30 Online:2022-06-24
  • Contact: X.W. Li
  • About author:*Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China.E-mail address: xwli@mail.neu.edu.cn (X.W. Li).

Abstract:

To probe a pathway to improve the low-cycle fatigue life of face-centered cubic (FCC) metals via grain boundary engineering (GBE), the tension-tension fatigue tests were carried out on the non-GBE and GBE Cu-16 at.%Al alloys at relatively high stress amplitudes. The results indicate that the cyclic strain localization and cracking at grain boundaries (GBs) can be effectively suppressed, especially at increased stress amplitude, by an appropriate GBE treatment that can result in a higher resistance to GB cracking and a greater capability of compatible deformation. Therefore, the sensitivity of fatigue life to stress amplitude can be weakened by GBE, and the low-cycle fatigue life of Cu-16 at.%Al alloys is thus distinctly improved.

Key words: Cu-Al alloy, Grain boundary engineering, Fatigue life, Crack nucleation, Stress amplitude