Fracture Characteristics of Fully Pearlitic Steel Wire in Tension and Torsion

The fracture characteristics of fully pearlitic steel wires with fine and randomly oriented lamellae have been investigated after tension and torsion, respectively. It is found that the predominant fracture mode under small pre-deformation is dimple. The analysis of the colony size and the lamellar structure near the fracture surface indicates that each dimple roots from one colony. A simulation of tensile deformation with several pearlitic colonies based on the real scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation shows that the plastic deformation concentrates and the stress traxiality is larger at the boundaries of colonies. It demonstrates the microcracks initialize at colony boundaries. Thus, the colony size is a significant factor for fracture behaviors under small pre-deformation. On the other hand, the fracture surface is investigated after large pre-deformation via torsion. The results show that fracture characteristics vary with radius from dimples, elongated dimples to the fibrous structure. It indicates that the fracture characteristics are dependent on the pre-deformation. The fracture mode under large pre-deformation becomes an anisotropic fibrous structure instead of dimples.