Strain partitioning and damage initiation in a continuously cooled carbide free bainitic steel

Microscopic stress and strain partitioning control the mechanical and damage behavior of multiphase steels. Using a combined numerical and experimental approach, local strain distributions and deformation localization are characterized in a carbide free bainitic steel produced by continuous cooling. The microstructure of the steel consists of...

Influence of microstructure on mechanical properties of bainitic steels in railway applications

Wheel–rail contact creates high stresses in both rails and wheels, which can lead to different damage, such as plastic deformation, wear and rolling contact fatigue (RCF). It is important to use high-quality steels that are resistant to these damages. Mechanical properties and failure of steels are determined by various microstructural...

Microstructural evolution of white and brown etching layers in pearlitic rail steels

The formation of White (WEL) and Brown Etching Layers (BEL) on rail raceways during service causes the initiation of microcracks which finally leads to failure. Detailed characterization of the WEL and the BEL in a pearlitic rail steel is carried out from micrometer to atomic scale to understand their microstructural evolution. A...

Atomic-scale investigations of isothermally formed bainite microstructures in 51CrV4 spring steel

Atomic-scale investigation was performed on 51CrV4 steel, isothermally held at different temperatures within the bainitic temperature range. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed three different morphologies: lower, upper, and inverse bainite. Atom Probe Tomography (APT) analysis of lower bainite revealed cementite...

The effect of heating rate and soaking time on microstructure of an advanced high strength steel

This work focuses on the effect of soaking time on the microstructure during ultrafast heat treatment of a 50% cold rolled low carbon steel with initial ferritic-pearlitic microstructure. Dilatometry analysis was used to estimate the effect of heating rate on the phase transformation temperatures and to select an appropriate inter-critical...

In situ study on fracture behaviour of white etching layers formed on rails

Failure in engineering materials like steels is strongly affected by in-service deleterious alterations in their microstructure. White Etching Layers (WELs) are an example of such in-service alterations in the pearlitic microstructure at the rail surface. Cracks initiate in the rails due to delamination and fracture of these layers and...