a b s t r a c tThe aging of the microstructure of Ni-base superalloys during service is primarily characterized by coarsening and rafting of the c 0 precipitates. The influence of these different aged microstructures on thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) under either continuously cycled (CC) and creep-fatigue (CF) was investigated. Three different aged microstructures, generated through accelerated aging and pre-creep treatments, were studied: stress-free coarsened c 0 , rafted with orientation perpendicular to loading direction (N-raft), and rafted with orientation parallel to loading direction (P-raft). Under most conditions, the aged microstructures were less resistant to TMF than the virgin microstructure; however, there were exceptions. Both stress-free coarsened and N-raft microstructures resulted in a reduction in TMF life under both CC and CF conditions in comparison to the virgin material. P-raft microstructure also resulted in reduction in TMF life under CC conditions; however, an increase in life over that of the virgin material was observed under CF conditions. These differences are discussed and hypothesized to be related to the interactions of the dislocations in the c channels with c 0 precipitates.

Thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) is a low cycle fatigue process in which material life is correlated to the mechanical strain amplitude. However, it is well known that several other factors influence this life. This paper examines several of these parameters and their influence on life using experiments conducted on a second generation directionally-solidified (DS) Ni-base superalloy. The parameters considered include the influence of the temperature extremums (T max of either 750 or 950 • C and T min of either 100 or 500 • C), strain ratio (R ), the strain-temperature phasing (in-phase (IP) and out-of-phase (OP)), the influence of dwells at the high temperature end of the cycle resulting in a creep-fatigue (CF) interaction, and material anisotropy associated with the grain growth direction (longitudinal versus transverse). Results suggest that the phasing has a primary role in controlling the mechanism of degradation. IP TMF is dominated by crack formation in volumes surrounding debonded carbides for both continuously cycling (CC) and CF at 950 and 750 • C, while OP TMF is dominated by surface oxidation and repetitive cracking of the oxide that reforms at the crack tip at 950 • C. Decreasing the T max to 750 • C the environmental and creep effects are reduced resulting in virtually pure fatigue exposure under OP conditions. With decreasing T min from 500 • C to 100 • C was observed an increase in inelastic strain amplitude and 1 corresponding decrease in life. Variations in R were found to have no significant influence on life or stabilized stress behavior. TMF loading in the transverse orientation resulted in life reductions over the longitudinal orientation due to cracks propagating in a transgranular manner. Lastly, only in material exposed to CF with a T max of 950 • C rafting of the γ precipitates was observed.

The predictive capability of the Sehitoglu–Boismier unified constitutive and life model for Mar-M247 Ni-base superalloy is extended from a maximum temperature of 871 °C to 1038 °C. The unified constitutive model suitable for thermomechanical loading is adapted and calibrated using the response from isothermal cyclic experiments conducted at temperatures from 500 °C to 1038 °C at different strain rates with and without dwells. The flow rule function and parameters as well as the temperature dependence of the evolution equation for kinematic hardening are established. Creep and stress relaxation are critical to capture in this elevated temperature regime. The coarse-grained polycrystalline microstructure exhibits a high variability in the predicted cyclic response due to the variation in the elastic response associated with the orientation of the crystallographic grains. The life model accounts for fatigue, creep, and environmental damage under both isothermal and thermomechanical fatigue (TMF).

Mo-Si-B alloys can offer higher temperature capability than Ni-base superalloys with proper balancing of the creep, ductility, and oxidation resistance through microstructure optimization. Mo-Si-B alloys are heterogeneous, containing both brittle and ductile phases and interfaces. Therefore, the phase fractions, their distributions, and their constitutive properties over the range of room temperature to maximum use temperature must be considered. This work addresses the optimization of mechanical properties for three-phase Mo-Si-B alloys. Three modeling tools are employed: microstructure generators to re-create statistically realistic microstructures, crystal viscoplasticity constitutive equations implemented for use with finite element solvers to capture microplasticity, and reduced-order models for evaluating important mechanical properties. In particular, the effects of microstructure on elastic modulus, yield strength, fatigue resistance, and susceptibility to brittle microcracking are considered. A novel reduced-order model is introduced for the evaluation of susceptibility to microcracking at phase interfaces. It is found that the Si content of the α-Mo phase is much more significant to the alloy’s balance of mechanical properties than the α-Mo volume fraction.

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