Abstract: Cyclic deformation in symmetrical push-pull mode was carried out at room temperature in air using a Schenck hydropuls machine.The total strain amplitude which was kept constant dur- ing the test ranged from ±0.004 to±0.012.The 0.2% offset yield stress σ_(0.2f) in tension and σ_(0.2r) in compression and peak stress σ were measured from the stress-strain hysteresis loop at various cycles.The Bauschinger strenghth differential factor(BSDF)was then calcu- lated from σ_(0.2f) and σ_(0.2r).The energy loss △E of each cycle was determined from hysteresis loop areas.These parameters,BSDF,σ and △E,appear to have two distinctively different stages. The dislocation structures were observed using TEM in specimens deformed cyclically,for various cycles.The observation shows that the dislocations pile-up mainly against grain boundaries and there exist large amount of deformation twins.The addition of 0.25 wt-% ni- trogen reduced the stacking fault energy of the alloy significantly.Cross-slip and climb are therefore rather difficult to occur during the cyclic deformation at room temperature,and well-defined dislocation cells and walls can only be seen at the final stage of fatigue.

Key words: Bausckinger effect, cyclic deformation, dislocation structure