[en] The low cycle fatigue characteristics of types 301 and 303 stainless steels, Hadfield manganese steel, and 300-M were determined. In relation to the performance of a solid state damping device, Hadfield manganese steel appeared to be most desirable due to high energy absorption, good fatigue lifetime, and low temperature sensitivity. The changes in mechanical properties accompanying the metastable austenite transformation have imposed serious limitations on the operating environment of transforming steel devices. A machine capable of consistently producing pure shear in torsion bars was designed. Torsional low-cycle fatigue characteristics of commercial steels were examined and compared to empirically-based predictions. Empirical correlations between fatigue life, strain range, and energy absorption were developed