Dislocation structure and surface relief in fatigued metals

The geometry of the persistent slip markings (PSMs) produced by cyclic loading in two stainless steels, one with fcc structure and the other with bcc structure, were assessed using atomic-force microscopy (AFM) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The internal dislocation structure in both steels was studied using transmission electron microscopy. The bands of the dislocation structure corresponding to cyclic strain localization were identified in both materials and were correlated with PSMs.