Effect of prestrain paths on mechanical behavior of dual phase sheet steel

The tensile and fatigue performance of dual phase (DP600) sheet steel was investigated with specimens, as-received, and with two different prestrain path conditions, uniaxial and plane strain. First, tensile tests of the as-received condition of DP600 were performed to obtain mechanical properties, specifically the uniform elongation, for determining the prestrain levels of the specimens. Then three prestrain levels from each strain path were applied onto the sheet steel. Tensile and fatigue specimens were prepared from the prestrained coupons. Mechanical properties were obtained from the uniaxial tests of the as-received and prestrained specimens for comparison. Fatigue testing was also conducted with strain controlled to acquire fatigue properties. The fatigue life curves were plotted as a function of strain range and Neuber factor. The uniaxially prestrained specimens exhibited higher fatigue strength than that of the as-received ones for the long life region, but the opposite effect was observed for the short life region of less than 104 reversals.