Influence of phase transformation due to temperature on cyclic plastic deformation in 304LN stainless steel

• Disparity in cyclic deformation behavior due to temperature was studied in 304LN steel.
• Stable hysteresis loops have been analyzed through probability density function approach.
• Cyclic loading results in pronounced hardening at elevated temperature.
• Masing behavior has been studied and compared.

Strain controlled fatigue experiments are conducted for 304LN at room and elevated temperature of 285 °C in ambient air. Varying cyclic plasticity characterizing parameters such as cyclic hardening/softening and Masing behavior are studied. It is found that hardening along with non-Masing behavior is demonstrated at both temperatures. However the response stresses required to cause deformation are substantially higher at room temperature. Additionally the extent of deviation from masing varied considerably with temperature. Furthermore it is shown that there is a continuous distribution of yield levels at both temperatures. All alterations observed in the cyclic plastic behavior are being accounted by the absence or presence of martensite.