Experiments on the Ratchetting Behavior of AISI 316L(N) Austenitic Steel at Room Temperature

Uniaxial tension-compression ratchetting tests were performed on AISI 316 L(N) austenitic stainless steel at room temperature. The mean stresses were low in comparison to the stress amplitudes. Nevertheless, they have been found to be of major importance to strain accumulation. Also, the stress amplitude exerts a distinct but, under the given conditions, smaller influence. No plastic shakedown has been found in the tests with constant mean stress and stress amplitude. Tests with an increase in the maximum load after a number of cycles, due to an increase in mean stress or stress amplitude, show a behavior similar to that in tests performed with the higher load only. Tests with a decrease in maximum load exhibit immediate shakedown, although tests performed with only the lower load showed ratchetting.