Corrosion fatigue is influenced by multiple parameters such as aggressiveness of the medium, temperature, R-value and frequency. The progression of S/N curves and especially the fatigue endurance limit are differently effected by changes of these testing variables.

In this study a cold-worked austenitic stainless steel has been tested under cyclic loading with a constant frequency of 20 Hz in both corrosive and inert media. Several S/N curves have been compiled under varied environmental conditions in order to show the effect of chloride content, temperature and pH-value of the testing solution. Also S/N curves at two different R-values are compared. Furthermore the fracture surfaces were analysed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). In addition electrochemical properties of the steel in the applied testing solutions were characterized by cyclic polarization.

The present work attempts to achieve an improved understanding of the relation between environmental conditions and corrosion fatigue behaviour of austenitic stainless steel.

Key words: Corrosion fatigue cracking, Austenitic stainless steel, Chloride solutions