Examination of HA230 turbine transition duct

Abstract

The present paper reports the results of an examination of a service run transition duct from one of Siemens' industrial gas turbines and the correlation between the findings for this, and those from the studies undertaken on laboratory exposed Haynes alloy 230 material. The studies have shown that there are changes in the microstructure and hardness of the material that can be related to temperature and time of exposure, and the information gained can lead to estimations of the average component operating temperature. Metallographic studies revealed a high level of heterogeneity of the grains in this transition duct.     

Risk assessment in pressure equipment inspection: review of recent applications in Jiangsu

Abstract

The application of risk based inspection (RBI) technology in five typical cases in Jiangsu Province, China was summarised and reviewed. Based on 10 year experiences of risk assessment, some key problems, which require special attention in the process of publicising and applying RBI technology in China, were put forward, and the integrity management of pressurised equipment and the qualification requirement for organisation undertaking the RBI projects were emphasised as well. Responses to RBI demands from Chinese petrochemical enterprises were analysed and recommended to be categorised into three groups. To conduct RBI successfully in China, the importance of combining a first rank RBI software and a well organised RBI team is proposed. A sinicised database of materials and chemicals owing to Chinese intellectual property is suggested to be built gradually as well.     

Effect of powder size on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti(C,N) based cermets

Abstract

Effect of the particle size of TiC and TiN on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti(C,N) based cermets has been evaluated. Ti(C,N)–WC–Co cermets made from four groups of mixed raw powders of different sizes were manufactured by vacuum sintering. The microstructure and composition were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDX). The result shows that the four samples have the typical microstructures of 'black core/grey rim'. The mechanical properties of the cermet manufactured from submicron TiC and nano TiN are the best among the four samples.     

Stress corrosion cracking behaviour of 2091 Al—Li alloy in sulphate and chloride containing solutions

Abstract

The stress corrosion cracking resistance of 2091 Al—Li alloy in underaged, and in peak aged condition was investigated in chloride solutions with or without sulphate addition using both the static load technique and the slow strain rate technique. It is shown that the underaged material is more resistant than peak aged material. Sulphate additions to chloride solutions increase the stress corrosion cracking susceptibility. Metallographic cross-section observations show the simultaneous occurrence of other kinds of corrosion: generalised. corrosion, pitting corrosion, intergranular corrosion, and exfoliation corrosion. It appears that stress corrosion cracking susceptibility increases as the extent of intergranular corrosion decreases.     

Solidification of high Nb containing TiAl based alloys

Abstract

Casting of titanium aluminides is an attractive processing route for production of near net shape components: turbocharger wheels, valves and aero-engine components are presently at the heart of casting developments. Among the casting alloys under consideration are a number of niobium rich TiAl based alloys that contain low boron additions for grain refinement and minor additions of other elements to enhance creep resistance. An essential condition that must be met to achieve grain refinement is a solidification pathway competed via β-(Ti), e.g. a pathway that avoids peritectic growth of α-Ti. In this contribution we describe the microsegregation analysis of a unidirectionally solidified sample from the ternary alloy Ti–45Al–8Nb. The corresponding solidification path is discussed on the basis of thermodynamic calculations and is shown to closely follow Scheil predictions with some amount of back-diffusion for aluminium. The analysis indicates that the nucleation undercooling for peritectic α (Ti) in the deep mushy zone is significant.     

Effect of chloride ions on passivity of Mg based materials

Abstract

The effect of chloride ions on passivation of pure Mg, Mg–0·6 vol.-%Mo composite, Mg–0·6 vol.-%Cu composite and Mg alloy AZ91D has been studied in 0·1M NaOH solution by cyclic polarisation and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). An addition of even 0·05M of chloride ions was sufficient to cause breakdown of passivity. Cyclic polarisation curves revealed a positive hysteresis loop in the presence of chloride ions. Breakdown potentials decreased continuously, for all materials, with increasing addition of chloride. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies revealed that the film resistance of all Mg based materials continuously decreased with the addition of chloride ions. The film resistance of Mg–0·6%Cu and Mg–0·6%Mo composites was lower than that of pure Mg and AZ91D. Mg–0·6%Mo composite showed the lowest film resistance in all the solutions. The increase in film capacitance, for pure Mg and Mg based composites, with the addition of chloride ions, was attributed to surface roughening. Mo reinforcements were more detrimental than copper reinforcements.     

Dynamic deformation and fracture properties of simulated weld heat affected zone of 9Cr-1Mo steel from instrumented impact tests

Abstract

Dynamic deformation characteristics such as dynamic yield stress and dynamic strain hardening exponent along with dynamic elastic-plastic fracture toughness for the different microstructural regions of heat affected zone (HAZ) of a nuclear grade 9Cr-1Mo steel have been evaluated by instrumented Charpy tests. Isothermal heat treatment at different temperatures was used to simulate the different microstructural regions in the HAZ of this steel, namely the over tempered base metal, intercritical, fine prior austenitic grained martensitic, and coarse prior austenitic grained martensitic regions. Effects of interparticle spacing on the dynamic deformation and fracture properties have been studied. It has been observed that the dynamic yield stress and the dynamic fracture toughness follow power law relationships with the interparticle spacing whereas the strain hardening exponent follows a linear fit.     

CONCEPTUAL MODELING BASED ON LOGICAL EXPRESSION AND EVOLVEMENT

Aiming at the problem of abstract and polytype information modeling in product conceptual design, a method of conceptual modeling based on logical expression and evolvement is presented. Based on the logic expressions of the product conceptual design information, a function/logic/structure mapping model is set up. First, the function semantics is transformed into logical expressions through function/logic mapping. Second, the methods of logical evolvement are utilized to describe the function analysis, function/structure mapping and structure combination. Last, the logical structure scheme is transformed into geometrical sketch through logic/structure mapping. The conceptual design information and modeling process are described uniformly with logical methods in the model, and an effective method for computer aided conceptual design based on the model is implemented.     

SPOT WELDING QUALITY FUZZY CONTROL SYSTEM BASED ON MULTISENSOR INFORMATION FUSION

The multisensor information fusion technology is adopted for real time measuring the four parameters which are connected closely with the weld nugget size(welding current,electrode displacement,dynamic resistance,welding time),thus much more original information is obtained.In this way,the difficulty caused by measuring indirectly weld nugget size can be decreased in spot welding quality control,and the stability of spot welding quality can be improved.According to this method,two-dimensional fuzzy controllers are designed with the information fusion result as input and the thyristor control signal as output.The spot welding experimental results indicate that the spot welding quality intelligent control method based on multisensor information fusion technology can compensate the influence caused by variable factors in welding process and ensure the stability of welding quality.     

Gelcasting of alumina based ceramic cores containing yttria for single crystal and directional solidification blades

Abstract

Ceramic cores play an essential role in investment casting. In this paper, gelcasting process has been successfully employed to fabricate alumina based ceramic cores containing yttria for single crystal and directional solidification blades. Based on an investigation of the formability of different ceramic slurries, material compositions of ceramic cores are determined by experiments. A proper sintering process is developed to get low sintered shrinkage, high apparent porosity and high room temperature flexural strength. The high temperature properties of ceramic cores are improved by dipping in water based yttria sol and resintering. The test results show that comprehensive properties of alumina based ceramic cores containing yttria fabricated by gelcasting are better than those of AC-1 ceramic cores made by the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials, China, and that the ceramic cores can be applied to single crystal and directional solidification blade casting.