Development of a Fatigue Life Assessment and Prediction Framework for a Bimetallic-Welded Thick-Wall Component of a Steam Turbine
In this investigation, we have applied an integrated experimental-analytical framework for fatigue life assessment and prediction of a thick-wall component of a high-pressure (HP) steam turbine. Emphasis is placed on the development of an effective experimental and analytical procedure for life characterization on the basis of low cycle and high cycle fatigue (LCF/HCF) in order to improve the safety, reliability, and affordability of real world steam turbine operations. Stress-control constant amplitude fully reversed fatigue tests were performed in room temperature and 500°C to serve two purposes: (a) to obtain experimental stress-life (S-N) curves and (b) to assess the values of the parameters of the energy-based framework to predict the fatigue life. The experimental and the predicted S-N curves are compared with each other in case of both the room and the elevated temperature to examine the soundness of the present energy-based model to predict fatigue life. The present lifing model was found to be able to predict both the room and elevated temperature LCF/HCF life of the thick-wall component with excellent accuracy. Furthermore, the elevated temperature fatigue life is found to be lower than the room temperature fatigue life due to the lower fatigue toughness at elevated temperature.