Effect of pre-straining on low-temperature mechanical behavior of AISI 304L

Corrugated AISI 304L sheets are used as a primary barrier for the insulation of membrane-type liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier cargo containment systems. AISI 304L is a transformation-induced-plasticity (TRIP) steel that exhibits complex material behavior, because it undergoes phase transformation during plastic deformation. Since the TRIP behavior is a very important mechanical characteristic in a low-temperature environment, significant amounts of data are available in the literature. However, quantitative data on the effect of pre-straining on low-temperature mechanical behavior of AISI 304L is not available, although corrugated AISI 304L sheets are subjected to significant amounts of pre-strain during operation. In the present study, pre-strain-dependent mechanical characteristics are investigated by carrying out low-temperature tensile tests on AISI 304L specimens. The effect of pre-strain on general characteristics such as yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, ductility, and TRIP (hardening rate) are also analyzed.