| Abstract Scope |
The mechanisms of cyclic deformation and fatigue failure can differ significantly from material to material, depending on the specific microstructural characteristics. In comprehensive fatigue studies aiming at a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms involved, detailed microstructural analyses of the materials investigated are essential. Interesting current topics that will be discussed are, for example, the fatigue of ultrafine-grained materials of extraordinary strength and of different types of steels, including metastable austenites, the elucidation of the damage mechanisms in the ultrahigh cycle regime (fatigue lives above 10^9 cycles) and new techniques of damage analysis based on intrinsic and damage-induced non-linear elastic compliance in conventional and in ultrasonic fatigue. Specific aspects of fatigue damage mechanisms, including cyclic strain localization, cyclic slip irreversibilities, fatigue crack initiation and propagation will be discussed with reference to current activities and results of recent studies. |