Response of Triaxial State of Stress to Creep Rupture Life and Ductility of 316 LN Austenitic Stainless Steel

In the present investigation, the effect of triaxial state of stress on creep rupture life and ductility of 316 LN stainless steel has been assessed. The creep tests were carried out on both smooth and notched specimens of the steel at 873 K in the stress range of 270-340 MPa. The notched specimens had root radius ranging from 0.83 mm to 5 mm. The detailed finite element analysis has been carried out to assess the triaxial state of stress across the notch incorporating Norton's law as creep deformation governing mechanism. The creep rupture life of the steel increased in presence of triaxial stresses and extent of which was more at lower net applied stresses and higher triaxiality (sharper notch). The reduction in effective stress in presence of notch resulted in higher creep rupture life of the steel under triaxial stresses. The fracture surfaces revealed mixed mode failure consisting of dimple ductile and intergranular creep cavitation for all testing conditions, however, extent of cavitation was higher for relatively higher triaxialities and lower net applied stresses. The creep ductility of the steel was found to decrease drastically under triaxial state of stress. The triaxial rupture life and creep ductility of the steel have been assessed based on different models on incorporating different components of stresses at the skeletal point.