Properties of GH4169 superalloy characterized by nonlinear ultrasonic waves

The nonlinear wave motion equation is solved by the perturbation method. The nonlinear ultrasonic coefficients β and δ are related to the fundamental and harmonic amplitudes. The nonlinear ultrasonic testing system is used to detect received signals during tensile testing and bending fatigue testing of GH4169 superalloy. The results show that the curves of nonlinear ultrasonic parameters as a function of tensile stress or fatigue life are approximately saddle. There are two stages in relationship curves of relative nonlinear coefficients β′ and δ′ versus stress and fatigue life. The relative nonlinear coefficients β′ and δ′ increase with tensile stress when tensile stress is lower than 65.8% of the yield strength, and they decrease with tensile stress when tensile stress is higher than 65.8% of the yield strength. The nonlinear coefficients have the extreme values at 53.3% of fatigue life. For the second order relative nonlinear coefficient β′, there is good agreement between the experimental data and the comprehensive model. For the third order relative nonlinear coefficient δ′, however, the experiment data does not accord with the theoretical model.