Assessment of Power Plant Components With Flaws and Defects Operating in the Long-Term Creep Range

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Speicher ◽  
Thorben Bender ◽  
Andreas Klenk ◽  
Falk Mueller ◽  
Christian Kontermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Initiation ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Creep Crack Growth ◽  
Material Behavior ◽  
Critical Crack Length ◽  
Creep Crack ◽  
Combining Data ◽  
Crack Problems

Abstract Originating from defects and flaws in high temperature components crack initiation and crack propagation under service conditions can occur. Fracture mechanics data and procedures are needed to study crack problems and to support an advanced remnant life evaluation. During subsequent research in the past 35 years, data were determined for different high temperature materials. Methodologies and concepts taking into account the specific material behavior were developed in order to be able to describe crack initiation and crack growth and have appropriate assessment methods available. For creep crack initiation two criteria principles were used and for creep crack growth assessment based on the integral C* parameter were applied. Furthermore, a method for determination of critical crack length was developed allowing decisions whether modified stress analysis methods are sufficient or more complicated fracture mechanics methods are needed. To provide data and methodologies in a user-friendly way, a program system combining data and methods was implemented. The paper describes developed features and shows comparisons to other methods. The methods can be applied for design purposes as well as remnant life assessments.

Assessment of Power Plant Components With Flaws and Defects Operating in the Long-Term Creep Range

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Speicher ◽  
Thorben Bender ◽  
Andreas Klenk ◽  
Falk Mueller ◽  
Christian Kontermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Initiation ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Creep Crack Growth ◽  
Material Behavior ◽  
Critical Crack Length ◽  
Creep Crack ◽  
Combining Data ◽  
Crack Problems

Abstract Originating from defects and flaws in high temperature components crack initiation and crack propagation under service conditions can occur. Fracture mechanics data and procedures are needed to study crack problems and to support an advanced remnant life evaluation. During subsequent research in the past 35 years, data were determined for different high temperature materials. Methodologies and concepts taking into account the specific material behavior were developed in order to be able to describe crack initiation and crack growth and have appropriate assessment methods available. For creep crack initiation, two criteria principles were used and for creep crack growth assessment based on the integral C* parameter were applied. Furthermore, a method for determination of critical crack length was developed allowing decisions whether modified stress analysis methods are sufficient or more complicated fracture mechanics methods are needed. To provide data and methodologies in a user-friendly way, a program system combining data and methods was implemented. The paper describes developed features and shows comparisons to other methods. The methods can be applied for design purposes as well as remnant life assessments.

Specimen Geometry Effects on Creep Crack Initiation and Growth in Parent Materials and Weldments

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catrin M. Davies ◽  
Robert C. Wimpory ◽  
David W. Dean ◽  
Kamran M. Nikbin
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Crack Initiation ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Creep Crack Growth ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Crack Growth Behaviour ◽  
Creep Crack ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Constraint Effects

High temperature crack growth in weldments is of great practical concern in high temperature plant components. Cracking typically occurs in the heat affected zone (HAZ) and often propagates into adjacent parent material (PM). Recently, the importance of constraint effects on creep crack growth behaviour has been recognised and creep crack growth testing on a range of specimen geometries has been performed. Experimental crack growth testing has been performed at 550 °C on a range of fracture specimens using sections taken from a non-stress-relieved 316 steel weldment. These specimens include the compact tension, C(T), middle tension, M(T) and circumferentially cracked bar, CCB, geometries. Results are presented from two long-term creep crack growth (CCG) tests performed on M(T) weldment specimens and these are compared with available data on C(T) and CCB weldment specimens together with both long and short term tests on parent material for a range of specimen geometries. The creep crack initiation (CCI) and growth (CCG) behaviour from these tests has been analysed in terms of the C* parameter. As high levels of residual stress exist in non-stress-relieved weldments, the residual stresses remaining in the weldment specimens have therefore been quantified using the neutron diffraction technique. Long-term (low-load) tests are required on PM specimen to observe specimen constraint effects in 316 steel at 550 °C. When interpreted in terms of the C* parameter the CCG behavior of PM and Weldment materials follow the same trendline on low constraint geometries. However, significant difference is observed in the CCG behavior of PM and weldments on the high constraint C(T) geometry. Long term tests on C(T) specimen weldments are required to confirm the results found.

Application of an Advanced Creep–Fatigue Procedure for Flexible Design of Steam Turbine Rotors Based on Fracture Mechanics Methods

2014 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilun Sheng ◽  
Henning Almstedt
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Initiation ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Ductile Material ◽  
Creep Crack ◽  
Creep Fatigue ◽  
Turbine Rotors ◽  
Material Ductility

The demand for steam turbine components is driven not only by high efficiency but also by high plant operational flexibility. Steam turbine rotors are therefore exposed to increased temperatures and increased number of stress cycles. These aspects should be considered for life-time prediction. Fracture mechanics methods are usually applied when crack like defects are detected not only for new rotors but also for rotor components in service. Based on the findings, a decision has to be made with respect to acceptability considering high temperature effects as well as the expected future operating regime. For defect analysis in the high temperature range, crack initiation and crack propagation under combined creep and fatigue loading need to be taken into account. Based on fracture mechanics methods and long-term testing data, an advanced creep–fatigue procedure for the evaluation of crack initiation and crack growth has been developed within the German Creep Group W14 for creep crack growth (CCG) behavior. Furthermore, recent studies show that the crack size for creep crack initiation (CCI) depends on material ductility and creep strain in the ligament. This paper demonstrates the industrial application of the abovementioned method for steam turbine rotor assessment, which has a focus on crack initiation and crack growth under creep–fatigue conditions. For crack initiation, a simplified approach based on defect size and material ductility is compared to a standard approach—two-criteria-diagram (2CD). For the advanced evaluation concept, the CCI criterion is combined for analysis with a creep–fatigue crack growth (CFCG) procedure. The benefit of the method especially for ductile material will be highlighted.

Application of an Advanced Creep-Fatigue Procedure for Flexible Design of Steam Turbine Rotors Based on Fracture Mechanics Methods

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shilun Sheng ◽  
Henning Almstedt
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Initiation ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Ductile Material ◽  
Creep Crack ◽  
Creep Fatigue ◽  
Turbine Rotors ◽  
Material Ductility

The demand for steam turbine components is driven by high efficiency but also by high plant operational flexibility. Steam turbine rotors are therefore exposed to increased temperatures and increased number of stress cycles. These aspects should be considered for life-time prediction. Fracture mechanics methods are usually applied when crack like defects are detected for new rotors but also for rotor components in service. Based on the findings a decision has to be made with respect to acceptability considering high temperature effects as well as the expected future operating regime. For defect analysis in the high temperature range, crack initiation and crack propagation under combined creep and fatigue loading need to be taken into account. Based on fracture mechanics methods and long-term testing data, an advanced creep-fatigue procedure for the evaluation of crack initiation and crack growth has been developed within the German Creep Group W14 for creep crack growth behavior. Furthermore, recent studies show that the crack size for creep crack initiation depends on material ductility and creep strain in the ligament. This paper demonstrates the industrial application of the abovementioned method for steam turbine rotor assessment, which has a focus on crack initiation and crack growth under creep-fatigue conditions. For crack initiation, a simplified approach based on defect size and material ductility is compared to a standard approach — Two-Criteria-Diagram (2CD). For the advanced evaluation concept, the creep crack initiation criterion is combined for analysis with a creep-fatigue crack growth procedure. The benefit of the method especially for ductile material will be highlighted.

Creep Deformation and Failure Assessment of Steel Weldments

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bilal Dogan
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Crack Initiation ◽  
Residual Life ◽  
Axial Stress ◽  
Creep Crack Growth ◽  
Material Behavior ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
Creep Ductility ◽  
Creep Crack ◽  
High Temperature Components

The effect of weldments in service performance of high temperature components has been subject to intensive research due to the fact that in the majority of cases where high temperature failure occurs, defects predominate in the vicinity of weldments. Cracking occurs in service due to reduced creep ductility of HAZ and weld metal due to ageing in service, combined with the action of multi-axial stress fields that reduce the creep ductility further. The defects detected or assumed to exist through minimum allowable limits of detectable flaws using non-destructive testing methods is required for structural integrity and residual life assessment of high temperature components. The assessment relies on information obtained from the material’s high temperature tensile, uniaxial creep, crack initiation and growth properties. The concepts used for time dependent fracture analysis of homogeneous bodies are commonly applied for creep crack growth in weldments that show multi-crack initiation and crack branching. This calls for study of deformation behavior and applicability of fracture mechanics parameters for high temperature assessment of weldments. The present paper reports on the material behavior and methodology followed for testing and assessment of the high temperature steel weldments.

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