Research Projects

Nano-structured metals and alloys enhance strength but often result in a loss in ductility and fracture toughness. However, it is possible to create steels with high strength and fracture toughness, such as nano-pearlitic steels. Real-life applications often involve cyclic loading, and fatigue behavior prediction requires a deep study of crack initiation, crack growth, and fracture mechanisms. Fatigue behavior becomes complex in dual phase steels, making it crucial to experimentally investigate the fatigue response of nano-structured steels, including strength, ductility, fracture toughness, impact toughness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. Microscopic analysis is also needed to understand deformation mechanisms. Model-building is proposed to use cyclic hardening models in numerical modeling for deformation behavior prediction of nano-bainitic and nano-pearlitic steels. Nano-structured steels have potential for rail materials, but high crack initiation resistance and crack growth tolerance are essential. The study aims to create nano-structured steels using thermodynamics and thermo-mechanical treatment, aiming for a microstructure with high endurance limit in fatigue loading and ultimate tensile strength.