Effect of primary α content on creep and creep crack growth behaviour of near α-Ti alloy

Abstract

The effect of primary α content on creep and creep crack growth behaviour of a near α-Ti alloy has been investigated at 600°C. The alloy was heat treated at different temperatures so as to obtain different volume fractions of equiaxed primary α in the range from 5 to 40%. Constant load creep tests were carried out at 600°C in the stress range 250–400 MPa until rupture of the specimens. Creep crack growth tests were carried out at 600°C and at an initial stress intensity level of 25 MPa m^1/2. Creep data reveal that minimum creep rate increases and time to rupture decreases with increase in primary α content indicating that higher primary α leads to creep weakening. On similar lines, maximum creep crack growth resistance is associated with the alloy with lowest primary α content (i.e. 5%). Microstructural and fractographic examination has revealed that creep fracture occurs by nucleation, growth and coalescence of microvoids nucleated at primary α/transformed β (matrix) interfaces. On the other hand, creep crack growth occurs by surface cracks nucleated by fracture of primary α particles as well as by growth and coalescence of microvoids nucleated at primary α/transformed β (matrix) interfaces in the interior of the specimen ahead of the crack tip.     

Effect of cyclic loading on subsequent creep behaviour and its implications in creep–fatigue life assessment

Abstract

Evaluation of creep–fatigue failure is essential in design and fitness evaluation of high-temperature components in power generation plants. Cyclic deformation may alter the creep properties of the material and taking cyclic effects into account may improve the accuracy of creep–fatigue failure life prediction. To evaluate such a possibility, creep tests were conducted on 316FR and modified 9Cr–1Mo steel specimens subjected to prior cyclic loading; their creep deformation and rupture behaviours were compared with those of as-received materials. It was found that creep rupture life and elongation generally decreased following cyclic loading in both materials. In particular, the rupture elongation of 316FR in long-term creep conditions drastically decreases as a result of being cyclically deformed at a large strain range. Use of creep rupture properties after cyclic deformation, instead of those of as-received material, in strain-based and energy-based life estimation approaches brought about a clear improvement of creep–fatigue life prediction.     

Effects of rejuvenation heat treatment on microstructure and creep property of a Ni-based single crystal superalloy

Both surface and internal microstructures of a second-generation Ni-based single crystal(SX) superalloy were studied after creep and rejuvenation heat treatment(RHT).It is indicated that the microstructures,such as the dislocation network,the γ phase and the γ' phase,can be recovered to those after the standard heat treatment(SHT).It is found that RHT affected zone(RAZ) formed at the surface is composed of theγ'-free layer,the transition layer and the recrystallization(RX),which are less than 20 μm in depth totally.Such depth of the RAZ doesn't affect the properties of the superalloy.The morphology of γ' phase at the RAZ is related to the composition of the elements.The average creep life after RHT is close to the average life after SHT.It is concluded that RHT could effectively repair SX parts and increase the total life of the sample after a damage by creep.     

Influence of surface modification and long-term exposure on mechanical creep properties of γ-TiAl G4

Abstract

An investigation of the corrosion processes were performed for coated and uncoated γ-TiAl G4, an alloy designed to work in the temperature range 750 – 800°C, where oxidation and corrosion phenomena occur. An aluminising pack cementation treatment was used to improve the oxidation resistance of this γ-TiAl G4 alloy. Cyclic corrosion tests were performed at 800°C in air for up to 800 1-hour cycles with a Na₂SO₄/NaCl mixture. The influence of both aluminisation and the corrosion phenomena on the creep behaviour was investigated. The cyclic corrosion resistance of the coated γ- TiAl G4 was shown to be improved by aluminising. The pack cementation treatment had no detrimental effect on the creep behaviour. Moreover, neither is creep affected by the corrosion of coated specimens. As corroded uncoated specimen exhibited good creep behaviour, it can be concluded that this alloy is suitable, even without coating, for turbine applications in hot corrosion atmospheres at least up to 800°C.     

Crack growth behaviour of P92 steel under creep and creep–fatigue conditions

Abstract

High temperature creep and creep–fatigue crack growth tests were carried out on standard compact specimens machined from ASME P92 steel pipe. The effects of various loading conditions on crack growth behaviours were investigated. Crack initiation time was found to decrease with the increasing initial stress intensity factor under creep condition and further to decrease by the introduction of fatigue condition. For creep test, the crack growth rate can be well characterised by the facture mechanics parameter C*. For creep–fatigue test, the crack growth behaviour is dominated by the cycle dependent fatigue process when the hold time is shorter, but it becomes dominated by the time dependent creep process when the hold time becomes longer.     

Mesoscale analysis of rubber particle effect on young’s modulus and creep behaviour of crumb rubber concrete

International Journal of Mechanics and Materials in Design - This paper presents a mesoscale model to investigate the rubber particle effect on the mechanical properties of crumb rubber concrete...     

The θ-concept in the theory of creep and its modification for describing the creep limit

The article contains an analysis of the theory of creep which in the literature is called the -concept, and its shortcomings are noted. The article suggests a modified variant of the theory and formulates a criterion of the creep limit from the positions of the theory of reliability. The obtained equations and criteria are compared with the results of creep and rupture tests of a heat-resistant alloy. These relations are fairly simple and can be used for engineering calculations of creep and creep limit.Leningrad University. TsNIIKM Prometei, Leningrad. Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 12, pp. 8–11, December, 1989.     

Influence of Ringer’s solution on creep resistance of hydroxyapatite reinforced polyethylene composites

In vitro creep studies of polyethylene, both unfilled and filled with hydroxyapatite at 0.20 and 0.40 volume fraction, have been performed. The samples were immersed in Ringer's solution at 37 degrees C for 1, 7, 30, 90 and 150 days prior to isochronous and creep tests in the same condition. The creep properties of unfilled polyethylene is unaffected by the immersion, but the isochronous modulus and the creep resistance of filled polyethylene were reduced. The effect increased with increasing volume fraction and time of immersion. This reduction is related to the penetration of the solution into the material, softening the interface.     

Effect of W–Mo balance on long-term creep life of 9Cr steel

The effect of tungsten–molybdenum (W–Mo) balance on creep life has been investigated for five heats of martensitic 9Cr steel with 1.5 % Mo equivalent (= 1/2W + Mo) at 600, 650 and 700°C. The combination of W and Mo concentrations in the present steel is 3W–0Mo, 2.8W–0.1Mo, 2.4W–0.3Mo, 1.8W–0.6Mo and 0W–1.5Mo. The time to rupture t_r exhibits a monotonous increase with increasing the W–Mo balance parameter 1/2W/(1/2W + Mo), namely, with increasing W concentration and concomitantly with decreasing Mo. The increase in t_r with increasing 1/2W/(1/2W + Mo) becomes less significant at long times. The precipitation of Fe₂(W,Mo) Laves phase takes place preferentially at prior austenite grain boundaries during creep, which enhances the grain boundary (GB) precipitation hardening. The amount of Laves phase increases with increasing 1/2W/(1/2W + Mo). The coarsening of Laves phase takes place at long times during creep, which reduces the GB precipitation hardening.     

Application of time–temperature–stress superposition on creep of wood–plastic composites

Time–temperature–stress superposition principle (TTSSP) was widely applied in studies of viscoelastic properties of materials. It involves shifting curves at various conditions to construct master curves. To extend the application of this principle, a temperature–stress hybrid shift factor and a modified Williams–Landel–Ferry (WLF) equation that incorporated variables of stress and temperature for the shift factor fitting were studied. A wood–plastic composite (WPC) was selected as the test subject to conduct a series of short-term creep tests. The results indicate that the WPC were rheologically simple materials and merely a horizontal shift was needed for the time–temperature superposition, whereas vertical shifting would be needed for time–stress superposition. The shift factor was independent of the stress for horizontal shifts in time–temperature superposition. In addition, the temperature- and stress-shift factors used to construct master curves were well fitted with the WLF equation. Furthermore, the parameters of the modified WLF equation were also successfully calibrated. The application of this method and equation can be extended to curve shifting that involves the effects of both temperature and stress simultaneously.     

Influence of heat treatment on creep of a Mn–N stabilised austenitic stainless steel

Creep at 700 °C/196 MPa and 900 or 925 °C/27.4 MPa of 21Cr–4Ni–9Mn austenitic stainless steel is determined as a function of the heat treatment. The heat treatment variation involves altering the solution heat treatment cooling rate from water quenching to cooling at 6 or 4 °C/min causing: serrated grain boundaries versus planar grain boundaries, coarser intergranular carbides, and discontinuous precipitation of grain boundary reaction zones. Water quenching causes improved creep resistance. Creep fracture and cracking is intergranular. Coarse intergranular carbides and grain boundary reaction zones cause premature void formation and cracking, this damage leading to an accelerating creep rate and lowering creep resistance of the more slowly cooled conditions. During creep, grain boundary serrations, which may otherwise contribute to improved creep, are eliminated. Determining the individual influence of grain boundary serrations on creep requires a detailed investigation of various heat treatment parameters to prevent concurrent formation of grain boundary reaction zones and serrations.     

Effect of σ-Phase on the creep properties of Cr25Ni20 stainless steel

It is concluded from above that effect of σ-phase on creep properties depends on particle size and distribution. Fine σ-phase particles dispersively precipitated along grain boundaries and within grains increase creep resistance and rupture strength, having general characteristics of dispersion hardening.     

Effect of oxidation on creep data: Part 2 – A procedure for assessing the effect of oxidation on constant-stress or constant-load creep curves using the Theta-projection concept

Abstract

A procedure based on Theta-methodology coupled with the knowledge of oxidation kinetics is envisaged for quantitatively assessing the effect of oxidation on creep curves. The procedure is based on the generation of a series of real constant-stress creep curves, at different stress and temperature levels, in inert atmosphere, where the effects due to oxidation are kept to a minimum level. Stress enhancement factors due to the effect of area reduction on specimen cross-section with plastic deformation and oxidation are defined for constant-stress or constant-load creep testing. These factors can be used in the integration of the strain-rate equation related to the 4θ - parameter analysis, to derive constant-stress or constant-load curves in air using either the strain hardening or time hardening theories. Although systematic constant-stress creep data in vacuum are not yet available to test the methodology effectively, a preliminary simulation is done to demonstrate how the model works, to check its performance and the possibilities of analysis.     

Analysis of interactions between damage and basic creep of HPC and HPFRC heated between 20 and 80 °C

The present study concerns the uniaxial compressive creep of High Performance Concrete (HPC) at moderate temperatures, 20–80 °C. The study was conducted on four formulations of HPC including two fibrous concretes envisioned for future storage structures of Intermediate Level Long-Life Nuclear Wastes. These wastes are exothermic and lead to maximal temperatures in the field ranging from 50 to 70 °C (Andra, Référentiel des matériaux de stockage de déchets à haute activité et à vie longue, 2005). Here, we investigate the basic creep under uniaxial compression at 50 and 80 °C and compare it to that obtained on the same HPC at 20 °C. The objective of this research is to contribute to a better understanding of the phenomenon of interaction between damage and basic creep of HPC at moderate temperature, especially with a view to its integration in Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical models dealing with the design of special structures (massive structures, specific serviceability conditions in nuclear or hydroelectric power plants, etc.). This test campaign allowed us to assess the effect of temperature on the magnitude of basic creep of HPC, and also the impact of various temperature and mechanical loading conditions on the Young’s modulus of HPC. Heating to 80 °C damages HPC (instantaneous Young’s modulus decrease) and thereby increases the creep capacity, showing a relation between damage and creep amplitude. Moreover, this study gives global activation energy of basic creep of HPC that should be useful for practitioners dealing with concrete structures sensitive to delayed strains and subjected to moderate temperature.     

Effect of Nb on long-term creep life of JIS SUS304HTB and JIS SUS347HTB steels – heat-to-heat variation and life assessment of stainless steels

Heat-to-heat variation in creep life has been investigated for the 9 heats of JIS SUS 304HTB (18Cr–8Ni steel) and also for the 9 heats of JIS SUS 347HTB (18Cr–12Ni–Nb steel) in the NIMS Creep Data Sheets, mainly taking the effect of Nb into account. The heat-to-heat variation in creep life of 304HTB is mainly caused by the variation in precipitation hardening due to fine NbC carbides at short times, while it is mainly caused by the variation in available nitrogen concentration, defined as the concentration of nitrogen free from AlN and TiN, at long times. The heat-to-heat variation in creep life of 347HTB is mainly explained by the variation of boron concentration, 3–27 ppm, but not by the variation of solution temperature, Nb/C atomic ratio and phosphorus concentration. Boron reduces the coarsening rate of fine M₂₃C₆ carbides along grain boundaries, which enhances the grain boundary precipitation hardening.     

Pickett effect and creep in flexure of steel‐fiber reinforced concrete

Abstract

Creep and shrinkage are of great concern in the design of steel fiber reinforced concrete structures. This is especially true for a prestressed flex‐ural member with thin section. The test results of creep of steel‐fiber rein‐foced concrete in flexure are presented. The concrete beams made with various fiber volume contents were tested in flexure under drying or standard moist conditions. The Pickett effect in steel‐fiber reinforced concrete was investigated. This research shows that fibers can effectively restrain the bending creep of concrete. The Pickett effect can be reduced with the addition of fibers to plain concrete beam subjected to fiexural loading.     

Computation of the relaxation and creep functions of elastomers from harmonic shear modulus

The purpose of this paper is to compute the relaxation and creep functions from the data of shear complex modulus, G ^∗(iν). The experimental data are available in the frequency window ν∈[ν_min,ν_max] in terms of the storage G′(ν) and loss G″(ν) moduli. The loss factor h( n) = \fracG"( n)G￠(n)\eta( \nu) = \frac{G'( \nu )}{G'(\nu )} is asymmetrical function. Therefore, a five-parameter fractional derivative model is used to predict the complex shear modulus, G ^∗(iν). The corresponding relaxation spectrum is evaluated numerically because the analytical solution does not exist. Thereby, the fractional model is approximated by a generalized Maxwell model and its rheological parameters (G _k ,τ _k ,N) are determined leading to the discrete relaxation spectrum G(t) valid in time interval corresponding to the frequency window of the input experimental data. Based on the deterministic approach, the creep compliance J(t) is computed on inversing the relaxation function G(t).