Fatigue crack growth behavior of laser-annealed IN 718 alloy in hydrogen

Abstract The effect of hydrogen embrittlement on the fatigue crack growth of IN 718 plate and laser-annealed specimens in hydrogen containing environment were investigated. Although the differences in tensile strength and impact toughness between solution-annealed (S) and aged (A) IN 718 specimens were significant, the experimental results indicated that both specimens within the low ΔK regime exhibited a similar fatigue behavior. As the ΔK increased above 30 MPa m , the solution-annealed specimen revealed a higher fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) than the aged one. In general, the IN 718 alloy had a low sensitivity to hydrogen-enhanced fatigue crack growth, independent of hydrogen sources. Residual compressive stresses ahead of the crack tip were responsible for the improved resistance to fatigue crack growth in a laser-annealed specimen. For alloys with similar strength, IN 718 alloy trapped a huge amount of hydrogen in the matrix showing a less susceptibility to hydrogen-enhanced fatigue crack growth in comparison with the maraging steel. Additionally, fatigue-fractured appearance near crack initiation sites reveals quasi-cleavage fracture in embrittled specimens.