Heterogeneous Microstructure Effect on Residual Stress and Fatigue Crack Resistance in Dual-Phase Materials

The effect of transformation-induced microscopic residual stress on fatigue crack propagation behaviour of ferrite-martensite lamellar steel was discussed. Fatigue tests of prestrained and non-prestrained specimens were performed. Inflections and branches at ferrite-martensite boundaries were observed in the non-prestrained specimens. On the other hand, less inflections and branches were found in the prestrained specimens. The experimental results showed that the transformation induced microscopic residual stress has influence on the fatigue crack propagation behaviour. To estimate the microscopic residual stress distribution, a numerical simulation of microscopic residual stress induced by martensitic transformation was performed. The simulation showed that compressive residual stress was generated in martensite layer, and the result agree with the experimental result that inflections and branches were observed at ferrite-martensite boundaries. In addition, the change in the microscopic residual stress distribution by prestraining was also calculated to show the compressive residual stress changed to tensile by prestraining. This also agree with the experimental result of the observation of fatigue crack path.

Prevention of Weld Metal Reheat Cracking During Cr-Mo-V Heavy Reactors Fabrication

CrMoV heavy reactors fabrication has undergone some weld metal reheat cracking issues during the end 2007 / beginning 2008. This paper addresses this particular problem and explains the methodology used to solve it. Usual techniques, such as chemical factors and required NDE, have shown their limits, underlining the fact that this problem was unpredictable. Special mechanical testing as well as very accurate chemical analyses have allowed the authors to find the root cause. Very small amounts of particular impurities were responsible for the cracking and a criterion is then proposed to ensure that the problem will not come out again.

Stress Re-Distribution Induced by Creep Relaxation Around a Notch Loaded in Tension: Measurement and Modeling

The majority of the pressure-retaining components in the core of a CANDU power generation system are manufactured from zirconium. The horizontal fuel channel components and the fuel bundles that contain the natural uranium fuel are manufactured using various grades of zirconium. The fuel channel consists of two concentric tubes; an internally pressurized tube (Zr-2.5%Nb) that contains the fuel bundles (Zr-4) and the re-circulating heavy-water primary coolant, enclosed by a larger diameter calandria tube (Zircaloy) that separates the pressure tube from the heavy-water moderator. Re-fuelling and other fuel management operations can create surface defects in the tubes and fuel bundle sheathing. Stress analyses of these small notches may indicate that, under certain conditions, cracks can be formed at the root of these notches. These flaws are locations of stress concentration in the internally pressurized tube and can initiate a failure mechanism known as Delayed Hydride Cracking. The anisotropic material properties of these zirconium components adds an additional level of complexity in an analysis. However, the occurrences of these life-limiting events appear to be minimized mainly due to beneficial contributors such as stress relaxation around the scratches. One of the most likely reasons for this relaxation is thermal creep. Previously [1], the measurement and modeling of thermal creep relaxation under constant displacement was examined using 2-D finite element (FE) models. This paper extends both the measurement and modeling of the relaxing stress/strain field to the more demanding boundary condition of constant applied load. Neutron diffraction is used to determine the changing strain field around a single notched, axially orientated specimen loaded in tension. This specimen orientation and loading configuration is modeled in three dimensions using a hybrid explicit FE program [2] that contains materials subroutines that describe high stress creep specially developed to simulate the highly anisotropic creep response of pressure tube materials. Despite the difficulty of obtaining precise delineation of the moving strain field, a good agreement between the measurements and the 3-D FE creep results is achieved. Using the creep subroutines, the FE models are used to examine the creep response of a single notched, transversely orientated specimen loaded in tension in the hoop direction.

Review of the Current Conservatisms in the Assessment of Thin-Walled Structures

Current methods for performing fracture mechanics assessments of thin-walled structures possess significant levels of conservatism, since they are often for general use with both thin-walled and thick-walled structures. In many industries, there are significant commercial drivers for reducing the amount of conservatism in these assessments. An enhanced understanding of the fracture behaviour of thin-walled structures in different situations may lead to the development of more appropriate structural integrity assessments. A review of the information pertaining to fracture mechanics analysis of thin-walled structures has been conducted. There are indications that improvements to the best practice methodology may be made, through improved tensile and toughness properties, consideration of limit loads, and the effect of residual stress distributions.

Numerical Validation of a Strain-Based Failure Assessment Diagram Approach to Fracture

The basic approaches in defect assessment procedures such as R6 consider the stresses on the section containing the flaw. Such approaches can be overly conservative and lead to unacceptably small estimates of limiting defect sizes for cases where the applied loads are due to displacements or strains well in excess of yield, when significant plastic relaxation of stress occurs. The potential for over-conservative assessments has led to a renewed interest in recent years in strain-based assessment methods, in both the power and pipeline industries. Significant levels of plastic strain can be imposed across the flawed section in some cases. Recently, the present author has published a general approach to strain-based fracture that uses a strain-based failure assessment diagram (SB-FAD). This includes a range of Options similar to that of the basic R6 approach. The present paper describes some validation of the SB-FAD approach based on elastic-plastic cracked-body finite element data for plates and cylinders.

Experimental and Numerical Characterisation of the Cyclic Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour of a High Temperature Forming Tool Alloy

This paper describes high temperature cyclic and creep relaxation testing and modelling of a high nickel-chromium material (XN40F) for application to the life prediction of superplastic forming (SPF) tools. An experimental test programme to characterise the high temperature cyclic elastic-plastic-creep behaviour of the material over a range of temperatures between 20°C and 900°C is described. The objective of the material testing is the development of a high temperature material model for cyclic analyses and life prediction of superplastic forming (SPF) dies for SPF of titanium aerospace components. A two-layer visco-plasticity model which combines both creep and combined isotropic-kinematic plasticity is chosen to represent the material behaviour. The process of material constant identification for this model is presented and the predicted results are compared with the rate-dependent (isothermal) experimental results. The temperature-dependent material model is furthermore applied to simulative thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF) tests, designed to represent the temperature and stress-strain cycling associated with the most damaging phase of the die cycle. The model is shown to give good correlation with the test data, thus vindicating future application of the material model in thermo-mechanical analyses of SPF dies, for distortion and life prediction.

Design Optimisation of a Ferritic Ring Weld Specimen Using FE Modelling

This paper describes the design optimisation of an SA508 ferritic steel ring weld specimen using FE modelling techniques. The aim was to experimentally and analytically study the effect of post weld heat treatment upon a triaxial residual stress field. Welding highly constrained geometries, such as those found in some pressure vessel joints, can lead to the formation of highly triaxial stress fields. It is thought that application of post weld heat treatments will not fully relax hydrostatic stress fields. Therefore a ferritic multi-pass ring weld specimen was designed and optimised, using 2D finite element modelling, to generate a high magnitude triaxial stress field. The specimen thickness and weld-prep geometry was optimised to produce a large hydrostatic stress field and still allow efficient use of neutron diffraction to measure the residual stress. This paper reports the development of the test specimen geometry and compares the results of welding FE analysis and neutron diffraction measurements. Welding residual stresses were experimentally determined using neutron diffraction; both before post weld heat treatment. Three dimensional moving heat source weld finite element modelling has been used to predict the residual stresses generated by the welding process used. Finite element modelling examined the effect of phase transformation upon the residual stress field produced by welding. The relaxation of welding stresses by creep during post weld heat treatment has also been modelled. Comparisons between the modelled and measured as-welded residual stress profiles are presented. This work allows discussion of the effect of post weld heat treatment of triaxial stress fields and determines if finite element modelling is capable of correctly predicting the stress relaxation.

Producing HP Pump Barrels Utilizing Powder Metallurgy and Hot Isostatic Pressing

The fabrication of near net shape powder metal (PM) components by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) has been an important manufacturing technology for steel and stainless steel alloys since about 1985. The manufacturing process involves inert gas atomization of powder, 3D CAD capsule design, sheet metal capsule fabrication and densification by HIP in very large pressure vessels. Since 1985, several thousand tonnes of parts have been produced. The major applications are found in the oil and gas industry especially in offshore applications, the industrial power generation industry, and traditional engineering industries. Typically, the components replace castings, forgings and fabricated parts and are produced in high alloy grades such as martensitic steels, austenitic stainless steels, duplex (ferritic/austenitic) stainless steels and nickel based superalloys. The application of PM/HIP near net shapes to pump barrels for medium to high pressure use has a number of advantages compared to the traditional forging and welding approach. First, the need for machining of the components is reduced to a minimum and welding during final assembly is reduced substantially. Mechanical properties of the PM/HIP parts are isotropic and equal to the best forged properties in the flow direction. This derives from the fine microstructure using powder powder and the uniform structure from the HIP process. Furthermore, when using the PM HIP process the parts are produced near net shape with supports, nozzles and flanges integrated. This significantly reduces manufacturing lead-time and gives greater design flexibility which improves cost for the final component. The PM HIP near net shape route has received approval from ASTM, NACE and API for specific steel, stainless steel and nickel base alloys. This paper reviews the manufacturing sequence for PM near net shapes and discusses the details of several successful applications. The application of the PM/HIP process to high pressure pump barrels is highlighted.

A Study on Estimation of Internal Pressure Creep Life Using Small Punch Creep (SPC) Tests for Boiler Pipes

The small punch creep (SPC) test is possible to predict residual creep life at a high accuracy. But, the results of SPC tests cannot be compared with uniaxial creep or internal pressure creep results directly. In this report, the relationship between SPC test results and uniaxial creep test results in ASME A335 P11 (1.25Cr-0.5Mo Steel) was studied. The obtained relationship between SPC load and equivalent uniaxial creep stress formed a simple linear equation under the wide range of test temperature and test period. Then, the SPC results can be compared with uniaxial results by converting SPC loads to the equivalent uniaxial creep stresses. The relationship between SPC test results and internal pressure creep tests results was also studied. The internal creep life of as-received P11 pipe was almost same as SPC result when the hoop stress was converted to the SPC load. The creep lives of internal pressure creep influenced materials also showed good correspondence with SPC results. Therefore SPC can estimate the residual life of internal pressure creep influenced materials.

Finite Element Simulation of Laser Beam Welding Induced Residual Stresses and Distortions in a T-Joint Configuration for Aeronautic Structures

Laser beam welding has found its application in the aircraft industry for the fabrication of fuselage panels in a T-joint configuration. However, the inconveniences like distortions and residual stresses are inevitable consequences of welding. The effort is made in this work to experimentally measure and numerically simulate the distortions induced by laser beam welding of a T-joint with industrially used thermal and mechanical boundary conditions on the thin sheets of aluminium 6056-T4. Several small scale experiments were carried out with various instrumentations to establish a database necessary to verify the simulation results. Finite element (FE) simulation is performed with Abaqus and the conical heat source is programmed in FORTRAN. Heat transfer analysis is performed to achieve the required weld pool geometry and temperature fields. Mechanical analysis is then performed with industrial loading and boundary conditions so as to predict the distortion and the residual stress pattern. A good agreement is found amongst the experimental and simulation results.