Evaluation of low cycle fatigue life of a surface modified low carbon steel by finite element method analysis

A finite element method (FEM) analysis has been performed to evaluate the low cycle fatigue life of the surface modified low carbon steel by quenching and tempering treatment. It was found that the equivalent plastic strain range of the surface modified steel, which has modifying layer with a thickness of 0.5mm, was smaller than that of non-surface modified steel at the surface portion of the specimen. The low cyde fatigue life appears to be improved by the surface treatment.