In this paper, the effects of the fatigue crack initiation position (FCIP) on fatigue life are discussed. Different modified gradient fields (MGFs) are prepared on the surface of 51CrV4 spring steel components by an ultrasonic assisted surface rolling process (USRP). Subsequently, the fatigue behaviour of steels with different FCIPs is systematically studied. The results show that the fatigue life of steels first exhibits an increasing tendency and then a decreasing tendency with increasing distance between an FCIP and the surface. When an FCIP shifts from the surface of the sample to the interior, the fatigue crack initiation resistance on the interior is greater than that on the surface, which leads to an increase in fatigue life. However, when the FCIP further shifts towards the centre of the specimen, the stress triaxiality experienced by the fatigue source gradually increases, which results in a peak in the curve of FCIP versus fatigue life. The magnitude of this peak fatigue life is related to the change in the stress triaxiality. Moreover, according to focused ion beam-high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (FIB-HRTEM) microstructural analysis near FCIPs, under a higher stress triaxiality, the crack tip area is subject to greater stress constraints, making the multiplication and movement of dislocations in this area more difficult, resulting in the decrease in movable dislocation density. This decrease in dislocation density leads to an increase in the stress concentration and accelerates the crack growth rate, decreasing the fatigue life. Therefore, the significant change in fatigue life is controlled by the MGF and stress triaxiality.

This paper addresses the role of multilevel microstructures on the fatigue crack propagation behavior and the tensile properties of lath martensite with different substructure sizes. Microstructure characterization of the alloy was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron back-scattering diffraction (EBSD), and optical microscopy (OM). Based on the classic Hall–Petch relationship, the results of tensile tests showed that martensitic block is the effective control unit of yield strength. Furthermore, the plasticity of lath martensite is not sensitive to grain size. The tensile deformation mechanisms were also discussed. Fatigue crack propagation tests revealed that the coarse grain has a higher crack propagation threshold and lower crack propagation rate than the fine grain in lath martensitic steel. The change in the plasticity zone ahead of the crack tip leads to the transitional behavior of the fatigue crack propagation rate. When plasticity zone sizes are equal to the block size, the fatigue crack propagation reverts to a stable propagation stage. Finally, an empirical model was established to predict the fatigue crack propagation rate of the stable propagation stage based on the tensile properties of the lath martensitic steel.

M50NiL steel, which belongs to a new generation of case-hardening steels used in aerospace bearing applications, is used mainly for the manufacturing of aerospace transmission components that operate under high temperatures. In this study, the effects of the hot deformation parameters and the initial microstructure on the hot deformation behavior of M50NiL steel were investigated through Gleeble-3500 isothermal hot compression tests. The experimental results demonstrated that the critical stain of dynamic recrystallization and the deformation activation energy of the coarse-grained samples were higher than those of the fine-grained samples. This is attributed to the difficulty of deformation and the dynamic recrystallization behavior of coarse-grained samples. Moreover, fine-grained samples contain a large number of dispersed phases, which can pin the grain boundaries and inhibit the growth of recrystallized grains. Such phenomena are beneficial for obtaining finer and more uniform microstructures in M50NiL steel. The experimental results can provide a useful reference for preparing M50NiL steel with excellent mechanical properties.

Two-phase TC21 titanium alloy samples were solution-treated at 990 °C (β phase zone) and cooled by furnace cooling (FC), air cooling (AC), and water quenching (WQ), respectively. The second solution stage treatment was carried out at 900 °C (α + β phase zone), then aging treatment was performed at 590 °C. The influence of the size and quantity of the α phase on the properties of the sample were studied. The experimental results showed as the cooling rate increased after the first solution stage treatment, wherein the thickness of primary layer α gradually decreased, and the tensile strength and yield strength gradually increased. After the second solution stage treatment, the tensile properties of samples increased due to the quantity of layers α increased. The aging treatment promoted the precipitation of the dispersed α phase and further improved the tensile strength. After the third solution stage treatments, the FC samples with more β-phase had the best comprehensive mechanical properties.

In the present paper, the high cycle fatigue (HCF) of a novel 211Z.X aluminum alloy with high strength was studied under hot-rolling and as-cast states at room temperature. The effects of microstructure and distribution of precipitated phases and impurities on the mechanical properties, HCF performances, fatigue microcrack initiation, and propagation behavior of the 211Z.X alloy were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The HCF S–N curves, P–S–N curves and Goodman fatigue diagrams of 211Z.X alloy consisting of two microstructures were drawn. The results suggested that the fine and dispersive distribution of the second phases improved the strength of the alloy. The formation of short-bar and spherical precipitates promoted coordinated deformation of the alloy. This promoted higher microcrack initiation resistance of 211Z.X alloy with a hot rolling state than in the cast state. As a result, the HCF properties of the hot-rolling alloy were better than those of the cast alloy. In sum, these results look promising for future reliable design of engineering structures and application of new aluminum alloys.