Surface Effects on Low Cycle Fatigue Behavior in IN718 Alloy

Abstract

Superalloys used in gas turbine engine rotating components require superior low cycle fatigue (LCF) properties, but often, the intrinsic LCF capability of the rotor, as determined by laboratory specimen tests, is limited by presence of fine particles such as carbides, borides and ceramic inclusions, as well as, pores, voids, and large grains in the alloy. Further, manufacturing processes such as turning, milling, and broaching can limit LCF life if they introduce surface damage and/or tensile residual stress. In IN718, prior studies have shown that fatigue initiation from MC carbides is promoted at lower test temperature and high stress, and the LCF life is significantly reduced. The present study investigates the effect of machining that can introduce carbide damage on LCF life, and a few post-machine processing methods for LCF recovery. The IN718 material used in this study came from a gas turbine disk forging that was directly aged without the conventional solution heat-treatment. The microstructure was fine-grained with an average grain size of 11 m. Smooth and notched LCF properties were evaluated with machined and polished surfaces at test temperature and stress that promoted carbide initiation of fatigue cracks.