Abstract
The effect of initial ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ in STS 304 Stainless Steel on fatigue resistance, and fatigue crack propagation behavior was studied with using C-T specimens. Higher ${\Delta}K_{th}$ was observed in the specimens with the content of 0% initial ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ than in the contents of 2% and 33% initial ${\alpha}^{\prime}$. The difference of da/dN at the same level of ${\Delta}K$ was distinctive in low and intermediate level of ${\Delta}K$ however became less different as the level of ${\Delta}K$ increased. It is because the formation of strain induced martensite occurred readily in lower ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ at the vicinity of the fatigue crack tip, which causes compressive residual stresses resulting in the enhancement of crack closure. In general fatigue cracks propagated transgranular mode and many segments of ridges were observed on the fracture surfaces. At the higher contents of initial ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ appeared the smaller size of ridge segments. Slips in austenite were blocked more frequently by the martensite colonies formed in austenite.