Dislocation and surface structures of copper and very-low-carbon steel at low fatigue amplitudes

Abstract Copper single crystals and polycrystalline very-low-carbon steel (0.036 wt.% C) were fatigue loaded at low and very low amplitudes. The resulting dislocation structures and surface features were studied and the results correlated. Similarities of the face- and body-centred cubic materials as to the resulting dislocation and surface structures are outlined. In addition, the question of an eventual effect of the loading frequency on the resulting microstructural changes is shortly discussed.