Ratchetting behavior of advanced 9–12% chromium ferrite steel under creep–fatigue loadings: Fracture modes and dislocation patterns

In order to reveal the physical mechanisms of ratchetting process under creep–fatigue loadings, following ratchetting tests in advanced 9–12% chromium ferrite steel, a study of associated fracture modes and dislocation patterns explored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations is presented in this paper. Two main domains were observed depending both on the peak hold time and on the stress ratio, in which the ratchetting deformation and failure mechanisms were different. These two damage domains correspond to two distinct creep–ratchetting interaction mechanisms. Particular attention was paid to the dependence of ratchetting damage behavior on the stability of dislocation substructure. In addition, an attempt is made to correlate the results of the microstructural investigations with the variations of internal stress.