Effect of stacking fault energy on pulsating fatigue behavior for fcc metals under the fully repeated loading

In previous studies, the relationship between stacking fault energy (SFE) and the fatigue process has been examined under the fully reversed loading in which ratcheting does not occur. In this study, under the fully repeated loading, for pure Ni (128 mJ/m2), pure Cu (40 mJ/m2) and Cu–35 wt% Zn (11.5 mJ/m2) with different SFEs, the effect of fatigue damage and ratcheting damage on fatigue life was investigated. It was observed that for pure Ni, compared with pure Cu and Cu–35 wt% Zn, ratcheting damage is dominant. For Cu–35 wt% Zn, compared with pure Ni and pure Cu, fatigue damage is dominant. For pure Cu, both ratcheting damage and fatigue damage are dominant (mixed type). Thus, it was observed for the first time that high SFE tends to enhance ratcheting damage and low SFE tends to promote fatigue damage under the fully repeated loading.