Effects of Different Microstructure on Resistance of EA4T Railway Axle Steel of Equal Strength to Fatigue Crack Growth

Abstract

Fatigue crack growth (FCG) rates in an EA4T railway axle steel heat treated by two different methods in near threshold and stable regions of growth were evaluated. Quite significant differences were observed, when the obtained results were compared with those published in the literature. Participation of the laboratory in an Exova (GE Aviation) FCG measurement qualification round robin programme with very good results practically excluded errors in the experimental methodology used. Strength of the two different evaluated series of the experimental material was equivalent. Nevertheless, there were substantial differences in fatigue crack growth rates, about 5-times in stable FCG region and even more than 10-times in the near threshold region, when oil quenching and air hardening treatments were compared. The differences were explained by different microstructures of the two groups of materials. Some minor differences between the character of the FCG curve in the threshold region evaluated using SEN(B) and M(T) specimens, published in the literature, are discussed considering crack closure phenomenon.