High temperature fatigue crack propagation behaviour of Inconel 718

Abstract: The overall objective of this work has been to develop and evaluate tools for designing against fatigue in gas turbine applications, with special focus on the nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718. The fatigue crack propagation behaviour under high temperature hold times has been studied. Firstly, the main fatigue crack propagation phenomena have been investigated with the aim of setting up a basis for fatigue crack propagation modelling. Secondly, modelling of the observed behaviour has been performed. Finally, the constitutive behaviour of the material has been studied, where focus has been placed on trying to describe the mean stress relaxation and initial softening of the material under intermediate temperatures.This thesis is divided into two parts. The first part describes the general framework, including basic observed fatigue crack propagation behaviour of the material when subjected to hold times at high temperature as well as a background for the constitutive modelling of mean stress relaxation. This framework is then used in the second part, which consists of the seven included papers.