Failure analysis on a leaf spring cracked during hot forming

•51CrV4 steel leaf spring cracked during end forming after induction heating.•Micro-sized surface and internal cracks were also detected in the cracking region.•Cracks followed trace elements enriched prior austenite grain boundaries.•Cracking mechanism was identified as hot shortness. In this study...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Engineering failure analysis 2024-09, Vol.163, p.108612, Article 108612
Main Authors: Balci, Erdem, Kaba, Mertcan, Nas, Eren, Seref Ercan, Mehmet, Karaagac, Mustafa, Cimenoglu, Huseyin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cracking
Hot shortness
Induction heating
Leaf spring
Microstructural examination
Rolling
Steel
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Summary:•51CrV4 steel leaf spring cracked during end forming after induction heating.•Micro-sized surface and internal cracks were also detected in the cracking region.•Cracks followed trace elements enriched prior austenite grain boundaries.•Cracking mechanism was identified as hot shortness. In this study, failure analysis was conducted on a 51CrV4 steel leaf spring cracked during hot forming by using a light optical and energy dispersive spectroscopy equipped scanning electron microscopes. Microstructural surveys revealed presence of several surface and internal cracks at the prior austenite grain boundaries, where trace elements (Cu, Sn, Sb and Pb) accumulated. Finite element analysis revealed that the location of the crack was the region of the leaf spring where the maximum principle stress developed. It was finally concluded that, the leaf spring material lost its hot ductility under tensile loading at the employed processing temperature upon intergranular liquation.
ISSN:1350-6307
1873-1961
DOI:10.1016/j.engfailanal.2024.108612