Effect of microstructural features on short fatigue crack growth behaviour in SA508 Grade 3 Class I low alloy steel

Aim of the paper is to understand the effect of microstructural features of SA508 Grade 3 Class I low alloy steel (LAS) on short crack propagation rate under cyclic loading. The complex upper bainitic microstructure of this LAS consists of low angle bainitic ferrite lath boundaries and high angle prior austenite grain boundaries (PAGBs). Compared to bainitic ferrite lath boundaries, the PAGBs provided major hindrance to short fatigue crack propagation in the subject LAS. The high angle PAGBs strongly resist the dislocation motion ahead of the crack tip as the crack tip approaches the PAGBs compared to that of low angle bainitic ferrite lath boundaries. This restriction of dislocation motion ahead of the crack tip based on hindrance provided by PAGBs resulted in retardation in short fatigue crack propagation rate along the crack path. The short fatigue crack propagated at stress intensity factor (SIF) range 'Delta K' values lower than threshold SIF range 'Delta K-th' for the long cracks. The growth rate of short fatigue cracks cannot be predicted by Paris law which is applicable for long crack growth. This is due to the fact that crack growth rate undergoes acceleration and retardation in short crack regime because of microstructural effects.