Influence of 65G steel microstructure on crack faces friction factor under mode II fatigue fracture

Purpose: The aim of the paper is to evaluate the dependence of microstructure parameters, strength and plasticity of steel on crack faces friction factor. Design/methodology/approach: The specimens for the investigation were cut out from the 10 mm thick hot-rolled plate of 65G steel used as a model material for fatigue and durability testing of whole-rolled railway wheels. The mechanical characteristics of the steel were determined according to the state standard using cylindrical specimens of diameter 5 mm and effective length 50 mm. The specimens were heat-treated at the mentioned conditions. Fatigue testing under mode II loading was carried out on a special rigid loading machine in the standard laboratory conditions at symmetric sinusoidal cycle with a frequency of 12 Hz in the range of fatigue crack growth rates da/dN = 5∙10⁻⁸…5∙10⁻⁷ m/cycle until its reaches relative length l/b ≥ 0.8. The obtained microsections were investigated using the optical metallographic microscope Neophot 9 equipped with a digital camera Nikon D50 and electronic scanning microscope Zeiss EVO 40XVP. Hardness of the specimens with different microstructure was determined using durometer TK-2. The crack faces friction factor was determined using original device for fractured surfaces sliding under certain compression force realization. Findings: The dependences of microstructure parameters, strength and plasticity of steel on crack faces friction factor are obtained. Research limitations/implications: The investigation of the influence of microstructure parameters, strength and plasticity of real wheel steels on crack faces friction factor at the mode II fatigue crack growth will be carried out. Practical implications: The value of crack faces friction factor have strong impact on stress intensity at the crack tip and must be taken into account at crack growth rates curves plotting. Originality/value: Mode II fatigue crack faces friction factor of steel is firstly experimentally determined.

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Opracowanie ze środków MNiSW w ramach umowy 812/P-DUN/2016 na działalność upowszechniającą naukę (zadania 2017).