Notch Fatigue Property of Domestic EA4T Axle Steel

The rotating bending fatigue property of smooth and notched specimens cut from domestic EA4T axle steel was tested according to the standard of EN13261-2009 and the fracture morphology was observed. The results show that the fatigue strength of the domestic EA4T axle steel met the requirements of EN13261-2009, and the fatigue strength of the notched specimen was 30% less than that of the smooth specimen; the rotating bending fatigue cracks initiated from a single source on the surface of the smooth specimen, while the cracks in notched specimen were originated from several points around the notch root; non propagating cracks were also observed at the notch root of the non fractured notched specimen.