Abstract
Zero to tension fatigue tests and strain controlled fatigue tests were carried out to find how initial strain induced martensite, ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ affects low and high cycle fatigue behavior and fatigue crack growth mechanisms. Microscopic study and phase analysis were carried out with TEM, SEM, EDAX, Optical Microscope, Ferriscope, and X-ray diffractometry. The amount of Initial ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ was controlled from 0% to 33% by controlling the temperatures for cold working and heat treatment. Lower contents of initial ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ showed higher fatigue resistance in low cycle fatigue but lower fatigue resistance in high cycle fatigue because it is ascribed to the more transformation of ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ martensite during low cycle fatigue and higher ductility. In high cycle fatigue, fatigue life is attributed to the strength and phase transformation of austenite into ${\alpha}^{\prime}$ during fatigue was negligible. ${\gamma}$ boundary, ${\gamma}/twin$ boundary, and ${\gamma}/{\alpha}^{\prime}$ boundary were found to be the preferred site of fatigue crack initiation.