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Elevated Temperature Low Cycle Fatigue

Properties of Martensitic Cast Steel
Stanisaw Mroziski, Grzegorz Golaski

Abstract This work investigated the elevated temperature

low cycle fatigue (LCF) properties of GX12CrMoVNbN91
(GP91) cast steel. Fatigue tests were performed for five levels of
total strain amplitude ac and temperature of 400, 550 and
600oC. In addition, the preliminary results from tensile test
were presented. S trong cyclic softening was observed in all
fatigue tests at elevated temperatures without stabilization
period of loop parameters. The plastic strain amplitudes during
cyclic strain loading were measured and correlated with the
fatigue lifetime using Coffin Mason Basquin plots at each
test temperature. The fatigue lifetime decreased as the
temperature test increased. The temperature effect on l ifetime
was more pronounced at low strain amplitudes.
Index Term
Fatigue, Mechanical properties, Lifetime
estimation, Cast.

I. INTRODUCTION
Thermal mechanical fatigue occurring with the participation
of elastic plastic strains is the basic mechanism of damage in
many elements serviced at elevated temperatures. These
elements include for example: electric power boilers, boiler
pipes, superheaters, engine elements. Temperatures of service
for the steels, of which these elements are made, reach 600 0C.
The basis for forecasting the fatigue lifetime of such elements
is the knowledge of low cycle properties of these materials,
determined at elevated temperatures. Material characteristics
are most often determined for the so-called period of
stabilization of cyclic properties. If this period does not occur,
they are determined from the period corresponding to half the
fatigue lifetime. Therefore, they do not take account of mutual
interactions of stress and temperature appearing during low
cycle fatigue and their influence on the course of low cycle
properties. This is the reason why the results of calculations
and tests of fatigue lifetime of construction elements subject to
changing load at elevated temperatures are characterized by a
considerable scatter [1], [2]. The required reliability, necessary

T his paper was realized in the framework of the grant No.

1215/B/T 02/2011/40 funded by Ministry of Science and Higher
Education in the years 2011-2013.Stanisaw Mroziski is with the
University of T echnology and Life Sciences in Bydgoszcz, Kaliskiego 7,
85-791 Bydgoszcz, Poland corresponding author (phone:+48 52 340-8264; fax:+48 52 340-82-71; e-mail: stmpkm@utp.edu.pl).
Grzegorz Golaski is with the Institute of Materials Engineering,
Czestochowa University of T echnology, Armii Krajowej 19, 42 200
Czestochowa, Poland (e-mail:grisza@wip.pcz.pl).

for these elements, is mostly achieved through selection of

adequately high factor of safety.
The fundamental purpose of this study is to determine the
influence of elevated temperature on low cycle properties of a
cast steel. Additional aim is experimental verification at
elevated temperature of the analytical models used for the
description of low cycle properties of steels at ambient
temperature.
II.
EXPERIM ENTAL PROCEDURE
The research material was high-chromium GX12CrMoVNbN9-1
(GP91) cast steel of the following chemical composition
(%mass): 0.12C; 0.47Mn; 0.31Si; 0.014P; 0.004S; 8.22Cr;
0.90Mo; 0.12V; 0.07Nb; 0.04N. The investigated GP91 cast steel
was after heat treatment (as -received condition) with the
following parameters of temperature and time: 1040oC/12h/oil +
760oC/12h/air + 750oC/8h/furnace. The influence of heat
treatment parameters on the properties and microstructure of
the examined cast steel is presented inter alia in the work [3].
Low cycle tests were performed using testing machine, the 8502
Instron type, with strain control (ac = const). The tests were
carried out at elevated temperature: 400, 550 and 600oC. Fatigue
tests were preceded by the static test of tension run at the
abovementioned temperatures. The test samples prepared for
research were round and threaded (Fig. 1). Fatigue tests as well
as the static test of tension at elevated temperature were
realized using the heating chamber. The test pieces were
resistance-heated, the temperature of test pieces was controlled
using thermoelements Pt Rh/Pt. Loading applied during the
tests was oscillating sinusoidally with the strain ratio R = - 1.
The tests were carried out at five levels of total strain amplitude
ac : 0.25; 0.30; 0.35; 0.50 and 0.60%.
The frequency of load change f during the tests amounted to
0.2Hz. Assumed as the criterion for the end of a fatigue test and
at the same time the fatigue lifetime Nf at a given strain level,
was the number of cycles N at which the occurrence of
deformation on the hysteresis loop arm in the compression
half-cycle was observed. The analysis of fatigue properties of
GP91 cast steel under the conditions of changing loads was
performed using the parameters of hysteresis loop which
included: total strain amplitude - ac, plastic strain amplitude ap, elastic strain amplitude - ae , stress amplitude -a. Their
values were determined on the basis of the values of loading
force and strains recorded during the fatigue tests.
On the basis of the recorded values of stress amplitude a in
the following stress cycles, the graphs of changes in the

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characteristic hysteresis loop parameters were plotted, as the
function of the number of stress cycles N. The characteristic
quantities for the loop, determined for half the number of cycles
to failure (N/Nf=0.5), were used while preparing the basic
fatigue characteristics of the cast steel. The obtained data were
also used to determine the slopes of regression lines applied
for the description of dependence between stress a and strain
ap (Mansons criterion).

Fig. 1. T est sample for the low cycle fatigue tests

III. RESEARCH RESULT AND A NALYSIS
A. Initial microstructure
The investigated cast steel in the as -received condition (after
heat treatment) was characterized by the microstructure of
high-temperature tempered martensite with elongated
subgrains whose shape was inherited from the lath martensite
with numerous precipitations. On the boundaries of prior
austenite grain and on the boundaries of subgrains, M 23C6
carbides were precipitated. Inside the subgrains, many
precipitations of the MX type were observed. Such a
microstructure is a typical microstructure of quenched and
tempered 912%Cr steels [4], [5]. Detailed information on the
microstructure of high-chromium steels/cast steels is provided
in the work [3], [6]. Example of the microstructure of the
examined cast steel in the as -received condition is presented in
Fig. 2.

B. Tensile properties at elevated temperatures

The low cycle fatigue tests of GP91 cast steel in the as -

Fig. 2. Microstructure of tempered martensite of GX12CrMoVNbN9-1

cast steel in the as-received condition (after heat treatment ), SEM,
etched with ferric chloride

87

received condition were preceded by the static test of tension

at elevated temperature. Table I includes the results obtained
from the test of mechanical properties.
T ABLE I
Mechanical properties of GX12CrMoVNbN9 1 cast steel at
elevated temperature
Temperature
o
C

YS
MPa

TS
MPa

El.
%

RA
%

400

419

536

29

49

MPa
182100

550

395

339

47

83

161460

600

303

338

64

87

146200

An increase in the temperature of testing leads to a decrease

in yield strength (YS) from the level of 419 MPa to 303 MPa, as
the temperature of testing increases from 400 to 600oC. A similar
dependence was observed for tensile strength (TS), where a
significant decrease from 536 MPa to 338 MPa could be
noticed. A decrease in the values of strength properties was
accompanied by the growth of the values of plastic properties
elongation and reduction of area.
C. LCF properties at elevated temperatures
The tests carried out have proved that the process of low cycle
fatigue of GP91 cast steel is characterized by strong cyclic
softening (an increase in the width of hysteresis loop ap
and a strong decrease in the stress amplitude a), whose
intensity grows along with the growth of temperature of the
fatigue test. Regardless of the fatigue test temperature, there
was no period of stabilization of the hysteresis loop parameters
observed in the following stages of cyclic strain. Cyclic
softening of the examined cast steel continued until the
occurrence of a crack in the test piece, which proves cyclic
exhausting of fatigue lifetime of the cast steel. Example of
changes in the hysteresis loop parameter stress a, as the
function of the number of cycles N for three levels of strain ac ,
is presented in Fig. 3.
Cyclic softening that occurred during low cycle fatigue was
also observed in high-temperature creep resisting martensitic
steels of 912%Cr grade. In these steels however, contrary to
the investigated cast steel, there was a clear period of
stabilization of the hysteresis loop parameters observable
stress amplitude a and strain amplitude ac [7].
Due to the lack of a clear period of stabilization of the
hysteresis loop, analytical description of fatigue properties of
the examined cast steel is considerably difficult. Considering
the changes observed in the parameters of hysteresis loop, in
the function of the number of stress cycles, the values of
hysteresis loop parameters necessary for analytical
descriptions of characteristics of the examined cast steel were
determined for the number of cycles N corresponding to

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Fig. 3. Influence of temperature on the changes in stress a : a) ac=0.25%, b) ac=0.35%, c) ac=0.60%

a)

b)

c)

Fig. 4. Influence of the temperature of fatigue test on the loop shape: a) ac=0.25%, b) ac=0.35%, c) ac=0.60%

0.5Nf (points 1, 2 and 3 in Fig. 3). Examples of hysteresis loop

obtained at three levels of strain for this number of stress
cycles is shown in Fig. 4.
On the basis of comparative analysis of hysteresis loops
obtained at the tested temperatures for five values of strain
(Fig. 3 and 4), it can be concluded that the temperature has an
influence on two basic parameters of the loop, i.e. ap (width
of the loop) and (height of the loop). For the same values of
strain, along with the temperature growth, the loop width
increases and the loop height decreases.
For the analytical description of dependence between stress
a and strain ap, Morrows equation was applied (1):
(1)
lg a lg K' n' lg ap
where: K- cyclic strain hardening coefficient, MPa; n- cyclic
strain hardening exponent.
The graphs obtained as a result of approximation of hysteresis
loop parameters (a and ap) from the periods corresponding to
half the fatigue lifetime (N/Nf =0.5) are shown in Fig. 5. While
Table II includes the values of parameters of Morrows
equation (n and K).

Mathematical model of cyclic softening of GP91 cast steel,

described with Morrows equation (1), is given in Table II.

Fig. 5. Influence of temperature on the characteristics of cyclic strain of

GP91 cast steel

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T ABLE II
Functions describing the course of cyclic strain of
GP91 cast steel, described with Morrows equation (1)

Te mpe rature ,
o
C

Regression function and correlation

coefficient
lg a = lgK + n lg ap ;
n cyclic strain hardening exponent;
K cyclic strain hardening coefficient.

400

lg a = lg763 + 0.0956lg ap ; R2 = 0.97

550

lg a = lg416 + 0.0743lg ap ; R2 = 0.96

600

lg a = lg496 + 0.1384lg ap ; R2 = 0.96

Growth of the temperature of fatigue test leads to an evident

decrease in the value of coefficient K and increase in the value
of hardening coefficient n for the temperature of 600C and its
decrease at the temperature of 550C.
The values of parameters n and K the basic material
characteristics used during the calculations of low cycle loads
in the case of materials not revealing the period of
stabilization, depend on the period of lifetime (N/N f), for which
they were determined. In the work [8], [9] it has been shown
that the values of parameters n and K depend on the number
of cycles of changing loads for which they were determined.
The values of these parameters determined at half the lifetime
(N/Nf =0.5) are not the average values for the whole fatigue
test, which in the Authors view shows the scale of
simplification and can lead to considerable errors . This remark
gains particular meaning when describing the fatigue
properties of a cast steel at elevated temperatures in which the
range of changes in these properties is bigger, compared to
ambient temperatures.
Fatigue lifetime of the investigated cast steel is described
using the equation of Manson-Coffin-Basquin (MCB) (2).

ac
2

ae
2

ap f

2N f
2
E
'

'
f

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steel for all temperatures ran with the dominant role of plastic
strain component ap.
T ABLE III
Mathematical model of fatigue life of GP91 cast steel

Fatigue
Fatigue Fatigue Number of
Fatigue
strength
strength ductility
strain
ductility
coefficient
exponent exponent reversals
coefficient
f
b
c
2Nt
f
C

MPa

400

659

0.346

- 0.060

- 0.585

4620

550

526

0.814

- 0.055

- 0.728

5717

600

248

2.210

- 0.022

- 0.851

5700

Therefore, it can be assumed that for these strain levels ac the

cyclic strain resistance of the investigated cast steel mostly
depends on its plastic properties. Similar dependence was also
observed in the case of high-temperature creep resisting
martensitic steels of the P91 and P92 type [10], as well as HB20
type cast stainless steel [11], however, the point of
intersection Nt for these steels at room temperature amounted
to about 1000 cycles, while for the HB20 steel at the
temperature of 600oC 4012 cycles.

2 N (2)

where: b - fatigue strength exponent;

c - fatigue ductility exponent;
f- fatigue strength coefficient, MPa;
f - fatigue ductility coefficient;
E - Youngs modulus, MPa.
For graphic illustration of the influence of temperature on
lifetime, Fig. 6 shows the obtained results in the form of fatigue
graphs, whilst Table III includes the parameters of MCB
equation (2).
Performed analysis of the obtained characteristics (Fig. 6)
shows that the abscissa 2Nt, the point of intersection of two
curves: ae =f(2Nf) and ap=f(2Nf), in the analyzed cases,
amounts to 4620 and around 5700 cycles, respectively, for the
temperature of 400oC and for temperatures of 550oC and 600oC.
This proves that with the values of total strain ac applied in
fatigue tests, the process of cyclic s train in the examined cast

Fig. 6. Low cycle fatigue life of GP91 cast steel at 400 and 600 o C
temperature

Analysis of the performed fatigue graphs (Fig. 6) obtained at

room temperature and elevated temperature allows to state that
the influence of temperature on lifetime depends on the level of
total strain amplitude. This influence is slight in the area of the
largest strains realized in the research (ac =0,60%) and
increases as the value of strain ac falls (Fig. 7).
Characteristics of low cycle fatigue of the examined cast steel
is provided in Table IV. Due to the lack of a clear stabilization
period of the fatigue characteristics (Fig. 3), the value of stress
a was determined from the period corresponding to half the
fatigue
lifetime
(N/N f=0.5)
[12],
[13].

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T ABLE IV
Fatigue characteristics of GP91 cast steel in the as-received condition
Temperature 400C

Number of cycles to failure N f

Strain
amplitude ac,
%

Temperature 550C

Temperature 600C

0.25

Number of
cycles to
failure Nf
8990

Stress a
(N/Nf=0.5),
MPa
319

Number of
cycles to
failure Nf
4533

Stress a
(N/Nf=0.5),
MPa
249

Number of
cycles to
failure Nf
3548

Stress a
(N/Nf=0.5),
MPa
193

0.30

4400

336

3340

257

2505

206

0.35

3001

347

1819

261

1945

208

0.50

955

371

889

273

947

237

0.60

855

378

773

278

683

236

9000

400

8000

550
600

7000

calculation method requires special analysis of the results of

low cycle fatigue tests. The proposal of method for analyzing
the test results is provided inter alia in the work [8].

6000

IV.

5000

1.

4000
3000
2000

2.

1000
0
0.35

0.30

0.35

0.50

0.60

Strain ac, %

Fig. 7. Low cycle fatigue life of GP91 cast steel in the as-received
condition: 400 at the temperature of 400C; 550 at the
temperature of 550C; 600 at the temperature of 600C

Increase in the temperature of testing in the scope of low

cycle fatigue, apart from reducing the fatigue lifetime of GP91
cast steel, also contributes to the straining of the investigated
material while the values of stress are lower and lower a (Table
IV). This has an influence on the reduction of low-cycle stress
transfer capacity, along with the temperature growth.
During the tests, regardless of the temperature, the changes in
fatigue characteristics of cast steel were observed (changes in
the hysteresis loops parameters). The changes in the loops
parameters as the function of a number of stress cycles and the
lack of a clear stabilization period, make it difficult to determine
the representative material data, used further for the
calculations of fatigue life. The results obtained while testing
the cast steel confirm the results included inter alia in the work
[2], where the difficulties in determining the period of
stabilization of cast steel at elevated temperature as well as the
influence of the extent of fatigue damage on material data were
signaled.
The changes in fatigue characteristics of steels/cast steels
occurring at elevated temperatures are the reason why
calculating the fatigue life of construction elements serviced at
elevated temperatures using material data, determined e.g. at
half the fatigue life, raise doubts. This data reflect only the
instantaneous properties of the material. The work [14],
proposes a method of calculating fatigue life that considers the
changes in cyclic properties occurring during loading. A new

3.

4.

5.

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CONCLUSION

Martensitic GX12CrMoVNbN9-1 cast steel during low

cycle fatigue at elevated temperatures of 400, 550 and
600C is subject to cyclic softening and does not
reveal a clear period of stabilization.
The extent of changes in cyclic properties is
influenced by the level of strain ac and the
temperature. At the temperature of 600C, the extent
of changes in cyclic properties is definitely higher
than at the temperature of 400C. At both
temperatures, the extent of changes in fatigue
properties decreases along with the growth of total
strain ac .
Fatigue lifetime of martensitic cast steel is influenced
by the level of strain ac,, as well as the temperature of
testing. Influence of the temperature on fatigue
lifetime depends on the level of strain. It is slight in
the area of very large strains and increases as the
level of strain falls.
The changes appearing in the parameters of
hysteresis loop and the lack of clear stabilization
period at elevated temperatures of the examined cast
steel makes it difficult to determine the basic material
data. Their values depend on the period of fatigue
lifetime assumed to determine them. Assuming them
from the period corresponding to half the fatigue
lifetime makes them reflect only the instantaneous
cyclic properties of the cast steel from this period of
fatigue lifetime.
During the service of power plant facilities,
interactions connected with the changes in stress and
temperature occur. The tests presented in this paper
were carried out under the conditions of constant
amplitude stress and constant temperatures. In order
to formulate detailed conclusions on the fatigue
properties of the cast steel, further studies should
take into consideration the changes in stress and
temperature occurring during the tests .

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REFERENCES
[1] J. Byrne, and N. Y. K. Kan, I. W. Hussey, G. F. Harrison,
Influence of sub-surface defects on low-cycle fatigue life in a gas
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21, 1999, pp. 195206
[2] A. Nagesha, M. Valsan, R. Kannan, K. Bhanu Sankara Rao and S. L.
Mannan, Influence of temperature on the low cycle fatigue
behaviour of a modified 9Cr-1 Mo ferritic steel, Inter. J. of
Fatigue, vol. 24, 2002, pp. 12851293
[3] G. Golaski and J. Sania, Mechanical properties of the
GX12CrMoVNbN91 (GP91) cast steel after different heat
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[4] A. Zieliska Lipiec, T . Kozie and A. Czyrska Filemonowicz,
Quantitative characterisation of the microstructure high
chromium steel with boron for advanced steam power plants, J.
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[5] J. Hald, Microstructure and long-term creep properties of 912%
Cr steels, Inter. J. Pressure Vessles and Piping, vol. 85, 2008, pp.
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[6] F. Abe, Bainitic and martensitic creep-resistant steels, Current
Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science, vol. 8, iss. 34, 2004,
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[7] P. F. Giroux, F. Dalle and M. Sauzay, Influence of strain rate on
P92 microstructural stability during fatigue tests at high
temperature, Procedia Engineering, vol. 2, 2010, pp. 2141 2150
[8] S. Mroziski and A. Lipski, Method of low-cycle fatigue test
results processing, Physicochemical Mechanics of Materials, vol.
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[9] S. Mroziski and G. Golaski, Influence of temperature on
analytical description of cyclic properties of martensitic cast
steel, J. Metall. Eng., vol. 1/1, 2012, pp. 3034
[10] G. Junak, and M. Ciela, Low-cycle fatigue of P91 and P92 steels
used in the power engineering industry, Arch. of Mater. Sc. Eng.,
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[11] S. J. Ko and Y.J. Kim, High temperature fatigue behaviors of a
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Polish)

91

Since 2002 Stanisaw Mroziski, Ph.D. (Eng) has been an expert

auditor of the Polish Centre for Accreditation, assessing the research
laboratories in Poland. He actively participates in the work of
associations acting in the university as well as in the country: Polish
Society of Mechanical Engineers and T echnicians (SIMP), Polish
Society of T heoretical and Applied Mechanics (PT MT iS), European
Structural Integrity Society (ESIS). His achievements for the University
were awarded several times, for instance with state medals (Silver Cross
of Merit in 1996) and First -Class Rector Awards.
Grzegorz Golaski was born on 7th October 1973 in Wielu
(Poland). In 1998 he graduated from Czestochowa University of
T echnology in the Faculty of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering.
Since 2001 he has been employed in this Faculty, first as an assistant ,
and next as an assistant professor. In 2003 he got a degree of PhD in
technical sciences in the field of materials engineering.
He is an author or co-author of around 110 articles and scientific
papers presented in conferences and seminars, home and abroad. Either
as a supervisor or executor, he was involved in realization of over 50
scientific research works connected with production problems. He took
part in the realization of 7 research projects (in two of them as a
supervisor). His research work deals with the issues related to the
processes of degradation of high-temperature creep resisting materials,
as well as methods of shaping of microstructure and properties of steels
and cast steels through heat treatment.
For his remarkable achievements in t he field of science he was
awarded several times, for instance with Rector Awards.

Stanisaw Mroz iski was born on 7th May 1961 in Bydgoszcz

(Poland). In 1986 he graduated from University of T echnology and Life
Sciences (the UT P) in Bydgoszcz, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
Since 1986 he has been employed in the UT P Faculty of Mechanical
Engineering, where he got the following academic degrees: PhD degree in
technical sciences (1995), post -doctoral degree in technical sciences
(2008).
Since 2010 he has been employed as an associate professor of the
UT P. In the years 2009-2012 he performed the function of a deputy
dean in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering for organization and
development issues. He is an author or co-author of around 60 articles
and scientific papers presented in conferences and seminars, home and
abroad. At present he manages a research laboratory accredited in 2001
by the Polish Centre for Accreditation. His research work deals with the
issues of fatigue of materials and constructions, as well as methods of
experimental study on the structure and operation of machines.

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