skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: 4. 2 K fracture toughness of 304 stainless steel in a magnetic field

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5424568

Metastable austenitic steels are used in the structure of high field of superconducting magnets. In this application the alloys sustain high stresses in high magnetic fields at 4.2 K. Safe and effective design demands complete characterization of tensile, fatigue, and fracture toughness behavior of these alloys under the anticipated operating conditions. The characterization problem is complex because these metastable austenitic steels can undergo strain-induced martensitic transformation at cryogenic temperatures. The available data on the behavior of metastable austenitic steels in magnetic fields at 4.2 K is somewhat confusing. It is known that the presence of a high magnetic field during deformation can enhance martensitic transformation in Ni, Ni-Cr, and Mn steels. The tensile behavior and the fatigue behavior of 304L and 304LN, which are, respectively, less stable and more stable than 304, have also been investigated in some detail in higher strength fields. Yield strength and fatigue property changes between tests performed in a magnetic field and without a magnetic field were not significant while the ultimate strength increased only slightly. The present work was undertaken to determine the extent and nature of the fracture toughness change of 304 stainless steel at 4.2 K in an 8 T magnetic field.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/ER
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
5424568
Report Number(s):
LBL-27378; CONF-890701-14; ON: DE90002083
Resource Relation:
Conference: International cryogenic materials conference, Los Angeles, CA (USA), 24-28 Jul 1989
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English