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Background: The mechanical characterization of the cyclic elastoplastic response of structural materials at elevated temperatures is crucial for understanding and predicting the fatigue life of components in nuclear reactors. Objective: In this study, a comprehensive mechanical characterization of 304L stainless steel has been performed including metallography, tensile tests, fatigue tests, fatigue crack growth tests and cyclic stress-strain tests. Methods: Isothermal tests were conducted at both room temperature and 300 °C for both the rolling direction and the transverse direction of the hot rolled steel. Mechanical properties were extracted from the uniaxial experiments by fitting relevant material models to the data. The cyclic plasticity behavior has been modelled with a radial return-mapping algorithm that utilizes the Voce nonlinear isotropic hardening model in combination with the Armstrong-Frederick nonlinear kinematic hardening model. The plasticity models are available in commercial FE software and accurately capture the stabilized hysteresis loops, including a substantial Bauschinger effect. Results: The material exhibits near isotropic properties, but its mechanical performance is generally reduced at high temperatures. Specifically, in the rolling direction, the Young's modulus is reduced by 16 % at 300 °C, the yield strength at 0.2 % plastic strain is lower by 23 %, and the ultimate tensile strength is lower by 30 % compared to room temperature. Fatigue life is also decreased, leading to an accelerated fatigue crack growth rate compared to room temperature. A von Mises radial return mapping algorithm proves to be effective in accurately modelling the cyclic plasticity of the material. The algorithm has also been used to establish a clear correlation between energy dissipation per cycle and cycles to failure, leading to the proposal of an energy-based fatigue life prediction model. Conclusions: The material exhibits reduced mechanical performance at elevated temperatures, with decreased monotonic strength, compared to room temperature. Fatigue life is also compromised, resulting in accelerated fatigue crack growth. The material's hardening behavior differs at room temperature and elevated temperature, with lower peak stress values observed at higher temperatures. The radial return mapping algorithm can be used to determine the dissipated energy per cycle which together with fatigue testing has been used to propose a low cycle fatigue life prediction model at both temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This study investigates the cyclic plasticity behavior of AM 316 L stainless steel. • Hill's anisotropic yield criterion is utilized in a 3D return mapping algorithm. • Kinematic and isotropic hardening is integrated together with a damage model. • The model accurately captures full cyclic hysteresis loops with historical effects. • An energy-based fatigue life model is derived from the algorithm and fatigue tests. This study addresses the critical need for a constitutive model to analyze the cyclic plasticity of additively manufactured 316L stainless steel. The anisotropic behavior at both room temperature and 300 °C is investigated experimentally based on cyclic hysteresis loops performed in different orientations with respect to the build direction. A comprehensive constitutive model is proposed, that integrates the Armstrong-Frederick nonlinear kinematic hardening, Voce nonlinear isotropic hardening and Hill's anisotropic yield criterion within a 3D return mapping algorithm. The model was calibrated to specimens in the 0° and 90° orientations and validated with specimens in the 45° orientation. A single set of hardening parameters successfully represented the elastoplastic response for all orientations at room temperature. The algorithm effectively captured the full cyclic hysteresis loops, including historical effects observed in experimental tests. A consistent trend of reduced hardening was observed at elevated temperature, while the 45° specimen orientation consistently exhibited the highest degree of strain hardening. The applicability of the model was demonstrated by computing energy dissipation for stabilized hysteresis loops, which was combined with fatigue tests to propose an energy-based fatigue life prediction model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]