The application of 'strain range partitioning method' to torsional creep-fatigue interaction

The method of strain range partitioning was applied to a series of torsional fatigue tests conducted on tubular 304 stainless steel specimens at 1200 F (649 C). Creep strain was superimposed on cycling strain, and the resulting strain range was partitioned into four components; completely reversed plastic shear strain followed by creep strain, creep strain followed by plastic strain and completely reversed creep strain. Each strain component was related to the cyclic life of the material. The paper describes the experimental procedure used to achieve strain partitioning and the torsional test results are compared to those obtained from axial tests. The damaging effects of the individual strain components were expressed by a linear life fraction rule. The shear strain plastic component showed the least detrimental factor when compared to creep strain reversal by plastic strain. In the latter case, a reduction of torsional fatigue life in the order of magnitude of 1.5 was observed.