LAUSR

ABSTRACT Effect of temperature on multiaxial creep behaviour of 304HCu austenitic stainless steel has been investigated. The multiaxiality was introduced by incorporating notches in smooth specimens. Creep rupture life increased with notch acuity ratio having a saturation/decline tendency. Notch strengthening increased with temperature, stress and notch sharpness. Multiaxial ductility decreased rapidly with notch sharpness and tended towards saturation. Fracture mode was found to change from transgranular ductile to intergranular creep depending on the stress, temperature and notch sharpness. Finite element analysis of notched specimens along with orientation imaging microscopic study was carried out to assess the deformation and damage at different normalised stress ratio. A temperature independent unique master plot for multiaxial rupture life as a function of stress has been established.