Cryogenic temperature near-threshold fatigue crack growth rate data for JBK-75 stainless steel

An important structural component of the Westinghouse Large Coil Programme superconducting magnet is the JBK-75 (modified A-286) stainless steel conductor sheath. Because the presence of pre-existing cracks or flaws in the conductor sheath is a potential possibility, the structural reliability of the conductor sheath would be enhanced if a threshold level of stress intensity range (ΔKsub(th)) was established below which fatigue crack growth would not occur. Consequently, near-threshold fatigue growth rate data were generated at two load ratios on JBK-75 stainless steel at room and cryogenic temperatures. No load ratio effect on near-threshold fatigue crack growth rate was observed at cryogenic temperatures. (author)