Cyclic stress-strain behavior of 9Cr1Mo steel at positive mean stress

Cyclic plastic behavior of a ferritic martensite 9%Cr–1%Mo steel was studied under load controlled cycling with positive mean stresses. The results were compared with data determined under symmetrical cycling. Cyclic hardening followed by softening was found to be inherent to cycling at positive mean stress contrary to the symmetrical loading where only continuous softening was observed. For a given stress amplitude, higher mean stress results in higher plastic strain amplitude. The onset of cyclic softening and the onset of cyclic creep acceleration occur simultaneously. In the region of cyclic softening a unique relation between the instantaneous cyclic creep rate and the instantaneous plastic strain amplitude was found for cycling at constant mean stress.