Fatigue dependence of residual magnetization in austenitic stainless steelplates

In order to estimate the amount of bending fatigue damage on austenitic sta inless steel plates, we have investigated the relationship between plane be nding stress and residual magnetization caused by martensitic structure in austenitic stainless steel plates. Magnetic flux density in the Z component caused by residual magnetization at I mm above a specimen is measured by u sing a high sensitivity fluxgate magnetic sensor. It can detect a very smal l magnetic flux density. From our experiments, the magnetic flux density at 1 nm above a specimen caused by residual magnetization has clear dependenc es on the increase of bending stress and the number of stress cycles. In th is paper, the relationship between bending stress and residual magnetizatio n in austenitic stainless steel plates is shown and the bending fatigue dep endence of residual magnetization on them is discussed.