Experimental Investigation of Very High Cycle Fatigue and Fatigue Crack Growth Behaviors of X17CrNi15-2 Stainless Steel

Understanding the fatigue behavior of materials is essential for designing components capable of enduring prolonged use under varying stress conditions. This study investigates the high-cycle fatigue and fatigue crack growth characteristics of X17CrNi15-2 stainless steel. Very high-cycle fatigue (VHCF) and fatigue crack growth tests were conducted on conventional fatigue and compact tension (CT) specimens fabricated from X17CrNi15-2 stainless steel. The fatigue crack growth behavior of the CT specimens was analyzed using Paris’ law. A revised version of Paris’ law was suggested based on the fatigue crack growth rate plotted against the stress intensity factor range, expanding on prior research utilizing three-point single-edge notch bend specimens. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to examine the fracture mechanisms of both fatigue specimen types. The results indicated that the fatigue specimens failed in the VHCF regime under stress amplitudes ranging from 100 to 450 MPa. A power law correlation between stress amplitude and fatigue life was established, with material constants of 7670.3954 and −0.1663. These findings offer valuable insights into the material’s performance and are crucial for enhancing its suitability in engineering applications where high-cycle fatigue is a critical factor.