Detection of fatigue damage in stainless steel by EBSD analysis (comparison with TEM observation)

Abstract

In order to develop high-reliable maintenance systems to secure the structural integrity of reactor components, analytical and diagnostic techniques for the detection of fatigue damage should be developed further. In the present study, crystal orientation analysis and microstructural observation were performed for Type 316 austenitic stainless steel subjected to cyclic loading by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) to clarify the relationship between the changes in the crystal orientation and the microstructure introduced by fatigue cycles. As a result of the comparison between the EBSD analysis and the TEM observation, it was concluded that the change in the local misorientation identified by the EBSD analysis was due to the formation of the dislocation cell structures identified by the TEM observation.