Abstract
In this study low cycle fatigue (LCF) behavior of 12Cr steel at high temperature are described. Secondly, comparisons between predicted lives and experimental lives are made for the several sample life prediction models. Two minute hold period in either tension or compression reduce the number of cycles to failure by about a factor of two. Twenty minute hold periods in compression lead to shorter lives than 2 minute hold periods in compression. Experiments showed that life predictions from classical phenomenological models have limitations. More LCF experiments should be pursued to gain understanding of the physical damage mechanisms and to allow the development of physically-based models which can enhance the accuracy of the predictions of components. From a design point-of-view, life prediction has been judged acceptable for these particular loading conditions but extrapolations to thermo-mechanical fatigue loading, for example, require more sophisticated models including physical damage mechanisms.
