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Analysis of Cracks in Solution-Treated AISI 17-4PH Stainless Steel Observed During Machining of Aerospace Component

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Abstract

17-4 PH stainless steels are extensively used in aerospace applications due to their high strength, corrosion resistance, and precipitation hardening ability. Extensive machining is required while manufacturing complex aerospace components. In the current failure, through-thickness long cracks were observed on a component during the second stage of machining. Machining was carried out on a solution-treated rod. Residual stress analysis revealed that unmachined bare rod and semi-machined uncracked hardware had compressive residual stresses, whereas tensile residual stresses were present on the cracked hardware. Transgranular cleavage features were present on the cracked surface, whereas tensile-tested specimens fabricated near and slightly away from the cracked region revealed dimple features. The microstructure consists of lath martensite and a small amount of delta ferrite with different sizes. X-ray diffraction analysis on the cracked and uncracked regions of the cracked hardware also confirmed the phases and types of residual stresses. Microhardness was found to be lower near the cracked region than away from crack region. The failure is attributed to tensile residual stresses aided through improper machining.

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Acknowledgment

Authors wish to place on record their deep sense of gratitude to Group Director, Materials and Metallurgy Group and Deputy Director, Materials and Mechanical Entity for their encouragement and support during the course of this work.

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  1. Materials and Mechanical Entity, ISRO, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, India

    Lagudu Yerrinaidu, R. Ranjith, F. Gino Prakash, Sushant K. Manwatkar, Rohit Kumar Gupta & Govind Bagargan

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  1. Lagudu Yerrinaidu
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  2. R. Ranjith
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  3. F. Gino Prakash
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  4. Sushant K. Manwatkar
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  5. Rohit Kumar Gupta
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  6. Govind Bagargan
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Correspondence to Lagudu Yerrinaidu.

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Yerrinaidu, L., Ranjith, R., Prakash, F.G. et al. Analysis of Cracks in Solution-Treated AISI 17-4PH Stainless Steel Observed During Machining of Aerospace Component. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 23, 2003–2013 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-023-01740-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-023-01740-6

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