TENSILE AND FRACTURE BEHAVIOUR OF VERY THIN 304 STAINLESS STEEL SHEET

Abstract

Specimen with rectangular cross-section usually used to measure the tensile properties of materials. However, the specimen size and thickness may affect the results. In this study, tensile and fracture behaviours of very thin 304 stainless steel sheet were investigated. The thickness of the stainless steel sheets investigated were 100 and 300 µm. Tensile samples were cut into dumbbell-shaped of rectangular cross-section with same width for both thickness according to ASTM E8. The results showed that 100 µm thin steel sheet exhibited higher tensile strength with no clear evidence of yielding as compared to 300 µm sheet. The fracture morphology images observed by scanning electron microscopy revealed that both specimens fracture in ductile mode. Formation of dimples on the fracture surface could be recognized easily in 300 µm sample at higher magnification as compared to 100 µm sample.