Effects of side‐groove depth on creep crack‐tip constraint and creep crack growth rate in C(T) specimens

The effects of side‐groove depth on creep crack‐tip constraint and creep crack growth (CCG) rate in C(T) specimens have been quantitatively studied. The results indicate that with increasing side‐groove depth, the constraint level and CCG rate increase and constraint distribution along crack front (specimen thickness) becomes more uniform. The constraint and CCG rate of thinner specimen are more sensitive to side‐groove depth. Two new creep constraint parameters (namely R^* and A_c) both can quantify constraint levels of the specimens with and without side‐grooves, and the quantitative correlations of CCG rate with constraint have been established. The mechanism of the side‐groove depth effect on the CCG rate has also been analyzed.     

基于C(t)积分及参数Ac的P92钢高温蠕变裂纹扩展研究

对于在高温环境下工作的构件,蠕变裂纹扩展是一种主要的失效机制,而裂纹尖端的拘束水平对蠕变裂纹扩展率有很大的影响。通过数值仿真与相关试验数据对比的方法,对裂纹扩展尖端的应力应变率场表征参量C(t)积分进行了相关研究,并基于参数Ac研究了P92材料裂纹尖端的拘束水平对蠕变裂纹扩展的影响。研究结果表明,C(t)积分值随裂纹扩展急剧减小,其数值及变化与积分路径到裂纹尖端的距离相关性很强,并且与拘束水平有一定的关系;拘束水平影响蠕变裂纹扩展率,拘束越大,裂纹扩展速率越快;参数Ac可以有效表征裂纹尖端拘束水平,其在寿命预测方面的应用有待进一步研究,同时在含裂纹的高温工作构件寿命评估方面有重大的意义。     

Accounting for crack tip cyclic plasticity and creep reversal in estimating (Ct)avg during creep‐fatigue crack growth

Creep‐fatigue crack growth (C‐FCG) rates in a P91 steel at 625°C were correlated as the average time rate of crack growth during hold time, (da/dt)_avg , with (C_t)_avg. At 60‐second hold time, the rates were lower than for 600‐second hold time. At 600‐second hold time, the crack growth rates converged on to the creep crack growth rate (CCGR) trend. Thus, the CCGR trend represents the upper bound for time‐dependent crack growth rates in P91 materials. The analytical expressions based on considering just the elastic and secondary creep deformation rates overestimated the magnitudes of (C_t)_avg by as much as a factor of 10 for the 600‐second hold time tests. After accounting for the effects of cyclic plasticity during unloading, and accounting for only partial reversal of creep strains accumulated during hold time, the estimates of (C_t)_avg compared well with the measured values. C_R represents the extent of crack tip creep strain reversal, and t_pl is the time required for the crack tip creep zone during the hold time to become equivalent in size to the cyclic plastic zone in terms of stress carried by that region. Together, these parameters accurately account for the effects of crack tip cyclic plasticity on the magnitude of (C_t)_avg. Both t_pl and C_R depend on material properties, and the latter also depends on the hold time. A parameter ? is introduced that is dependent only on material properties and from which C_R can be estimated for a given hold time. t_pl and ? can be reported as part of the test results from C‐FCG testing.