Tensile deformation behavior and microstructure of nickel-base superalloy Inconel 625 are investigated under different strain rates of 5 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹ and 5 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹. According to the experimental results, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the alloy increase with the increase in strain rate in room temperature. Microstructure results indicate that the size of dimples is smaller in the tensile fracture surface at low strain rate than the high strain rate, and the number of dimples is also related to the strain rates and twins appear earlier in the specimens with higher strain rates. Apart from Hollomon and Ludwik functions, a new formula considering the variation trend of strength in different deformation stages is deduced and introduced, which fit closer to the tensile curves of the 625 alloy used in the present work at both strain rates. Furthermore, the Schmid factors of tensile samples under two strain rates are calculated and discussed. In the end, typical work hardening behavior resulting from the dislocations slip behavior under different strain rates is observed, and a shearing phenomenon of slip lines cross through the δ precipitates due to the movement of dislocations is also be note.

Effects of the stress ratio on the very high cycle fatigue behaviors of 9%Cr turbine steel have been investigated at 630 °C. The experimental results show that the S–N curve has a continuous downward trend and has no fatigue limit with the increasing in the cycles at 630 °C. Meanwhile, according to the analysis of microstructure, there are two failure modes that were observed at different stress ratios (R = −1 and 0.1), including surface crack failure and internal crack failure, respectively. Besides, the theoretical threshold value of the crack growth is compared with the calculated value of the fracture surface. To decrease the difference between the threshold value of internal crack initiation and the corresponding theoretical value, a new model for the crack growth threshold of the interior-induced fracture at different stress ratios is proposed and discussed.