Evolution of the cyclic plastic response of Sanicro 25 steel cycled at ambient and elevated temperatures

•Strain controlled fatigue tests were performed at ambient and elevated temperatures.•Hysteresis loops were analyzed using generalized statistical theory of the loop.•Dislocation structures were documented at both temperatures.•Different surface reliefs were reported at ambient and at elevated temperatures.•Effective stress and probability density distribution function were assessed.

Cyclic plastic response of the austenitic heat resistant steel Sanicro 25 has been studied during strain controlled low cycle fatigue tests performed at ambient and at elevated temperature. Simultaneously with the cyclic hardening/softening curves hysteresis loops during cyclic loading were analyzed using generalized statistical theory of the hysteresis loop. The probability density distribution function of the internal critical stresses, the effective saturated stress and their evolution during cycling were derived for various strain amplitudes. The internal dislocation structure and the surface relief at room and at elevated temperature were studied and correlated with the cyclic stress–strain response and the evolution of the probability density function of the internal critical stresses.

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