Dynamic Strain Ageing in AISI 316L Type Stainless Steel as Revealed by Indentation Creep Studies

The phenomenon of dynamic strain ageing (DSA) is known to be prevalent in many of the iron and nickel based alloys which are mainly used as materials for nuclear power plant parts. This behaviour of the material is revealed as a jerky flow phenomenon in the tensile test results, when tests are performed at particular strain rate ranges. Authors probe into this aspect of the behaviour of AISI 316L stainless steel through the indentation creep test route so as to find out the implication of DSA on indentation creep test results. The occurrence of DSA is confirmed by the authors by compression tests carried out on samples of 316L with different loads at set strain rates. The authors attempt to find the evidence for DSA through creep data obtained fr m the indentation creep tests. Their findings reinforce the theory that there is a limiting stress above which the applied stress should pull the dislocations away from the solute atmosphere.