Sound velocities and elastic constants of steels 304,310,and 316

Abstract

Recently, the author collaborated in studying the elasticconstant variability in stainless steel 304. Twenty samples acquired randomly were measured ultrasonically within an experimental uncertainty of 0.2% in the sound velocities. The results showed surprisingly small elastic-constant variations; about 1% in the Young's and shear moduli and about 1.5% in the bulk modulus and Poisson's ratio. This included all possible variation sources: chemical composition, thermomechanical processing, sample anisotropy, and experimental error.