Multiscale experimental investigations about the cyclic behavior of the 304L SS

This work follows a series of experiments carried out earlier at INSA of Rouen (Hassan, T., Taleb, L., Krishna, S., 2008. Influence of non-proportional loading paths on ratcheting responses and simulations by two recent cyclic plasticity models. Int. J. Plast. 24, 1863–1889). It investigates the elastoplastic cyclic behavior of a 304L stainless steel at room temperature. In a first step the cross path effect on ratcheting is confirmed, as well as the crucial role of the loading path non-proportionality. Strain controlled tests are also conducted for different strain amplitudes and loading paths. Cross-hardening effect appears more important when the shearing sequence is followed by the axial one. Moreover for alternating axial and shearing cycles, this phenomenon occurs after each crossing sequence leading to a very significant strain hardening, at least of the same order as the one obtained after a circular strain path. Yet, the magnitude of the observed over hardening does not necessarily seem a function of the cumulated plastic strain.