Influence of Strain Rate and Temperature on Tensile Deformation and Fracture Behavior of Type 316L(N) Austenitic Stainless Steel

Tensile tests were performed at strain rates ranging from 3.16 × 10⁻⁵ to 3.16 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ over the temperatures ranging from 300 K to 1123 K (27 °C to 850 °C) to examine the effects of temperature and strain rate on tensile deformation and fracture behavior of nitrogen-alloyed low carbon grade type 316L(N) austenitic stainless steel. The variations of flow stress/strength values, work hardening rate, and tensile ductility with respect to temperature exhibited distinct three temperature regimes. The steel exhibited distinct low- and high-temperature serrated flow regimes and anomalous variations in terms of plateaus/peaks in flow stress/strength values and work hardening rate, negative strain rate sensitivity, and ductility minima at intermediate temperatures. The fracture mode remained transgranular. At high temperatures, the dominance of dynamic recovery is reflected in the rapid decrease in flow stress/strength values, work hardening rate, and increase in ductility with the increasing temperature and the decreasing strain rate.