A study of several factors governing the fatigue limits of austempered ductile cast iron with various microstructures

The effects the leading factors bearing on fatigue limits were investigated with three kinds of ductile iron specimens various microstructures. As a result of examination, the fatigue limits in relationship to hardness and tensile strength, the expected higher improvement for fatigue limits in the case of the high strength specimens that experienced austempering treatment are not observed in comparison with the specimens treated with stress relief treatment. The estimated maximum defect size is one of the important parameters in predicting and evaluating fatigue limits for three different heat-treated ductile cast irons. Also, a quantitative relationship can be established between the fatigue limit and maximum defect size. Moreover, it is possible to explain the difference in fatigue Limits in the three ductile cast irons by application of the rates of non-propagating crack which connects the adjacent graphite nodules before it stops.