Stress-controlled LCF experiments and ratcheting behaviour simulation of a nickel-based single crystal superalloy with [001] orientation

Uniaxial ratcheting behaviour and low cycle fatigue (LCF) failure mechanism of nickel-based single crystal superalloy DD6 with 001] orientation are investigated through the stress-controlled LCF tests with stress ratio of ?1. Then the deformation behaviour during the whole-lifetime from the beginning of the experiment to the fracture of the specimen, as well as the fractographic/metallographic morphology, are compared with the strain-controlled LCF experimental results. Through the scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations, it is shown that the failure characteristics under stress-controlled LCF loading are similar with those under strain-controlled loading. Nevertheless, unlike strain-controlled LCF loading, even under fully reversed cycle loading for stress-controlled LCF, DD6 shows significant ratcheting behaviour due to the tension-compression asymmetry. In addition, the LCF lifetimes under stress control are significantly shorter than the LCF lifetimes under strain control, and the culprit might be the detrimental effect of ratcheting strain on LCF lifetime. Based on these phenomena, an improved crystal plasticity constitutive model on the basis of slip-based Walker constitutive model is developed through modifying the kinematic hardening rule in order to overcome the inaccurate prediction of decelerating stage and stable stage of ratcheting behaviour. Furthermore, combining the continuum damage mechanics, a damage-coupled crystal plasticity constitutive model is proposed to reflect the damage behaviour of DD6 and the accelerating stage of ratcheting behaviour. The simulation results for the stress-controlled LCF deformation behaviour including the whole-lifetime ratcheting behaviour show good agreement with the experimental data.