Surface relief evolution and fatigue crack initiation in René 41 superalloy cycled at room temperature

Surface relief evolution and fatigue crack initiation of René 41 superalloy was studied. The material was tested in two thermodynamical states: solutionised and aged. Cylindrical specimens were cycled at total strain amplitude 0.8% at room temperature. In order to study relevant mechanisms resulting in surface relief formation and eventually fatigue crack initiation, cycling was interrupted at definite number of elapsed cycles. After each...