ELEVATED TEMPERATURE LOW-CYCLE FATIGUE BEHAVIOR OF HK40 ALLOY

— By conducting creep tests and creep‐fatigue tests at temperatures of 800°C, 900°C, and 1000°C, on centrifugal cast HK40 alloy (which is used for example for the steam reformer tubes of fuel cell plants) and varying the strain rate during the loading and unloading process, the influence of strain history on the life of the material has been clarified. Furthermore, the data obtained from these tests were subjected to analyses by means of life evaluation methods utilizing the life fraction rule, strain range partitioning method, and damage rate approach, and comparative studies were conducted on each life evaluation method. As a result, problematic points concerning the application of the life fraction rule, strain range partitioning method, and damage rate approach have been clarified and data which would be useful in establishing design guidelines for structures to be used under conditions such as involves the interaction of creep and fatigue have been obtained.