Welding is a venerable and reliable fabricating technique to integrate materials into complex geometry desired for various industrial applications. However, localized heat concentration leading to microstructural variations can deteriorate the fatigue life of welded components. The present study explains tensile and high cycle fatigue performance of microplasma arc welded 316L SS thin sheet (0.5 mm thickness) material. The square butt joint configuration with a single pass weld was achieved for 316L SS similar sheet material. The skeletal and lathy delta-ferrite-austenitic structures were observed in the fusion zone (FZ) due to non-equilibrium solidification, which is attributed to the different thermal cycle behaviour of the FZ. This morphology is explained by the pseudo phase diagram and the Schaeffler diagram of SS material. The tensile test showed that the microplasma arc welding process achieved a joining efficiency of 93%. The high cycle fatigue performance of welded specimens was analysed at different alternating stress amplitude. The presence of a dense delta ferrite phase in the austenitic matrix is responsible for fatigue failure of the welded specimen. However, the development of deformation-induced martensite in the crack initiation site promotes fatigue life. The crack initiation, propagation, and sudden failure site were investigated to explain the fatigue fracture behaviour.
PraganaJPMBragançaIMFReisL, et al.Formability of wire-arc deposited AISI 316L sheets for hybrid additive manufacturing applications. Proc IMechE, Part L: J Materials: Design and Applications2021; 235: 2839–2850.
2.
KambleAGRaoRV. Experimental investigation on the effects of process parameters of GMAW and transient thermal analysis of AlSl 321 steel. Adv Manuf2013; 1: 362–377.
3.
KangCWFangFZ. State of the art of bioimplants manufacturing: part I. Adv Manuf2018; 6: 20–40.
4.
LeeWSChenTHLinCF, et al.Impact response and microstructural evolution of 316L stainless steel under ambient and elevated temperature conditions. Metall Mater Trans A2012; 43A: 3998–4005.
5.
PuzzolanteJLScibettaMChaouadiR, et al.Tensile and low-cycle fatigue properties of solution annealed type 316L stainless steel plate and TIG-weld exposed to 5 dpa at low-temperature (42 °C). J Nucl Mater2000; 283–287 part 1: 428–434.
6.
BrooksJAThompsonAWWilliamsJC. A fundamental study of the beneficial effects of Delta ferrite in reducing weld cracking. J Res Soc Buddhism Cult Herit1984; 64: 71–83.
7.
HaneklausNReuvenRCioneaC, et al.Tube expansion and diffusion bonding of 316L stainless steel tube-to-tube sheet joints using a commercial roller tube expander. J Mater Process Technol2016; 234: 27–32.
8.
ChenRJiangPShaoX, et al.Enhancement of fatigue resistance for 316L welds produced by magnetic field assisted laser-MIG hybrid welding. J Mater Process Technol2018; 254: 114–123.
9.
FengYLuoZLiuZ, et al.Keyhole gas tungsten arc welding of AISI 316L stainless steel. Mater Des2015; 85: 24–31.
10.
KimYHLeeDJByunJC, et al.The effect of sigma phases formation depending on Cr/Ni equivalent ratio in AISI 316L weldments. Mater Des2011; 32: 330–336.
11.
ShaikhHRaoBPCGuptaS, et al.Assessment of intergranular corrosion in AISI type 316L stainless steel weldments. Br Corros J2013; 37: 129–140.
12.
AlaliMToddIWynneBP. Through-thickness microstructure and mechanical properties of electron beam welded 20 mm thick AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel. Mater Des2017; 130: 488–500.
13.
KarJRoySKRoyGG. Effect of beam oscillation on microstructure and mechanical properties of AISI 316L electron beam welds. Metall Mater Trans A2017; 48: 1759–1770.
14.
KumarSSMuruganNRamachandranKK. Microstructure and mechanical properties of friction stir welded AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel joints. J Mater Process Technol2018; 254: 79–90.
15.
BhamjiIPreussMThreadgillPL, et al.Linear friction welding of AISI 316L stainless steel. Mater Sci Eng A2010; 528: 680–690.
16.
KellJTyrerJRHigginsonRL, et al.Microstructural characterization of autogenous laser welds on 316L stainless steel using EBSD and EDS. J Microsc2005; 217: 167–173.
17.
KannanARShanmugamNSVendanSA. Effect of cold metal transfer process parameters on microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of AISI 316L tailor welded blanks. Int J Adv Manuf Technol2019; 103: 4265–4282.
18.
VentrellaVABerrettaJRRossiWD. Pulsed Nd:yAG laser seam welding of AISI 316L stainless steel thin foils. J Mater Process Technol2010; 210: 1838–1843.
19.
KianersiDMostafaeiAMohammadiJ. Effect of welding current and time on the microstructure, mechanical characterizations, and fracture studies of resistance spot welding joints of AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel. Metall Mater Trans A2014; 45: 4423–4442.
20.
TsengKHHsiehSTTsengCC. Effect of process parameters of micro-plasma arc welding on morphology and quality in stainless steel edge joint welds. Sci Technol Weld Join2003; 8: 423–430.
21.
DwibediSBagS. Development of micro-plasma arc welding system for different thickness dissimilar austenitic stainless steels. J Inst Eng India Ser C2021; 102: 657–671.
22.
PrasadaKSRaoCNRaoDN. Study on weld quality characteristics of micro plasma arc welded austenitic stainless steels. Procedia Eng2014; 97: 752–757.
23.
SahaDPalS. Microstructure and work hardening behavior of micro-plasma Arc welded AISI 316L sheet joint. J Mater Eng Perform2019; 28: 2588–2599.
24.
PrasadSPalSRobiPS. Analysis of weld characteristics of micro plasma arc welded thin stainless steel 306 L sheet. J Manuf Process2020; 57: 957–977.
25.
ReddyGVPSandhyaRValsanM, et al.High temperature low cycle fatigue properties of 316(N) weld metal and 316L(N)/316(N) weld joints. Int J Fatigue2008; 30: 538–546.
26.
Puchi-CabreraESSaya-GamboaRABarbera-SosaJGL, et al.Fatigue life of AISI 316L stainless steel welded joints, obtained by GMAW. Weld Int2009; 23: 778–788.
LeberHJNiffeneggerMTirbonodB. Microstructural aspects of low cycle fatigued austenitic stainless tube and pipe steels. Mater Charact2007; 58: 1006–1015.
29.
YeDXuYXiaoL, et al.Effects of low-cycle fatigue on static mechanical properties, microstructures and fracture behavior of 304 stainless steel. Mater Sci Eng A2010; 527: 4092–4102.
30.
Müller-BollenhagenCZimmermannMChristHJ. Very high cycle fatigue behaviour of austenitic stainless steel and the effect of strain-induced martensite. Int J Fatigue2010; 32: 936–942.
31.
MaengWYKimMH. Comparative study on the fatigue crack growth behavior of 316L and 316LN stainless steels: effect of microstructure of cyclic plastic strain zone at crack tip. J Nucl Mater2000; 282: 32–39.
32.
ZhangMChenGZhouY, et al.Optimization of deep penetration laser welding of thick stainless steel with a 10 kW fiber laser. Mater Des2014; 53: 568–576.
33.
FukumotoSFujiwaraKTojiS, et al.Small-scale resistance spot welding of austenitic stainless steels. Mater Sci Eng A2008; 492: 243–249.
34.
KouS. Welding metallurgy. 2nd ed. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2003.
35.
KchaouYHaddarNHénaffG, et al.Microstructural, compositional and mechanical investigation of shielded metal Arc welding (SMAW) welded superaustenitic UNS N08028 (alloy 28) stainless steel. Mater Des2014; 63: 278–285.
36.
LeeJHParkSHKwonHS, et al.Laser, tungsten inert gas, and metal active gas welding of DP780 steel: comparison of hardness, tensile properties and fatigue resistance. Mater Des2014; 64: 559–565.
37.
ParkesDXuWWesterbaanD, et al.Microstructure and fatigue properties of fiber laser welded dissimilar joints between high strength low alloy and dual-phase steels. Mater Des2013; 51: 665–675.
38.
DieterGE. Mechanical metallurgy. SI metric edition. New York: McGraw Hill Book Company, 1988, p. 8.
39.
ShankarVMariappanKSandhyaR, et al.Understanding low cycle fatigue and creep fatigue interaction behaviorof 316 L(N) stainless steel weld joint. Int J Fatigue2016; 82: 487–496.
40.
HongHURhoBSNamSW. A study on the crack initiation and growth from δ-ferrite/γ phase interface under continuous fatigue and creep-fatigue conditions in type 304L stainless steels. Int J Fatigue2002; 24: 1063–1070.
41.
ManJObrtlíkKPetrenecM, et al.Stability of austenitic 316L steel against martensite formation during cyclic straining. Procedia Eng2011; 10: 1279–1284.
