Evaluation of variation of tensile strength across 316LN stainless steel weld joint using automated ball indentation technique

Tensile strength variation across 316LN stainless steel fusion welded joint comprising of base metal, deposited weld metal and heat affected zone (HAZ) has been evaluated by Automated Ball Indentation (ABI) technique. Automated Ball Indentation tests were conducted on the various zones of the steel weld joint at 300, 523 and 923?K. The flow curves obtained from ABI results were consistent with corresponding conventional uniaxial tensile test results. The HAZ exhibited higher tensile strength than the other regions of the steel weld joint at all investigated temperatures. The ratio of ultimate tensile strength to yield stress (YS), which represents the work hardening behaviour, increased with an increase in temperature for the base metal and HAZ; whereas it remained nearly the same for the weld metal.     

Impression creep deformation behaviour of 316LN stainless steel

The impression creep deformation behaviour of 316LN SS was investigated from microstructure, substructure, microhardness and profilometry studies of the creep deformed region. Impression creep tests were conducted on 316LN SS in the temperature range of 923–973?K, at different punching stresses in the range of 472–760?MPa. The impression creep deformation was characterised by a hemispherically shaped plastic zone which developed around the indentation. The study revealed the distinct regions under the punch undergoing deformation to different extents. The deformation was found to occur predominently on (111) planes. The dislocations in the highly deformed region were well dispersed in the matrix. The size of the plastic zone was estimated to be ～1·5 times the diameter of the indenter based on the microhardness and profilometry studies. The critical spacing to be maintained between the adjacent indentations was estimated to be >5 times the diameter of indenter.     

Effect of nitrogen on tensile flow behaviour of type 316 LN austenitic stainless steel

Abstract

The influence of nitrogen content on the tensile flow behaviour of type 316 LN austenitic stainless steel has been studied. Nitrogen content in the steel has been varied in the range 0·07 to 0·22 wt-%. Tensile tests were carried out over the temperature range of 300–1123 K at a nominal strain rate of 3×10^?3 s^?1. The tensile flow behaviour of the steels has been analysed based on the constitutive equation proposed by Voce. The Voce’s parameters of initial stress (σ_i) and saturation stress (σ_s) were found to increase linearly with increase in nitrogen content at all the test temperatures. Tensile properties of the steels were predicted from Voce constitutive equation parameters.     

Creep properties and design curves for nitrogen enhanced grade of 316LN stainless steel

Abstract

316L(N) stainless steel (SS) containing 0·02–0·03 wt-% carbon and 0·06–0·08 wt-% nitrogen is the principal material for the high temperature structural components of the prototype fast breeder reactor in India. In order to increase the economic competitiveness of sodium cooled fast reactors (SFRs), there is a strong desire to increase the design life from the current level of 40 years to at least 60 years for the future reactors. As a part of the efforts to develop materials with superior mechanical properties suitable for longer design life, the influence of nitrogen at concentrations higher than 0·07 wt-%, on the high temperature mechanical properties of type 316L(N) SS is being studied. Four heats of 316L(N) SS, containing 0·07, 0·11, 0·14 and 0·22 wt-% nitrogen have been evaluated extensively in terms of their tensile, creep, low cycle fatigue and creep fatigue interaction properties. Based on these studies, the nitrogen content has been optimised at 0·14 wt-%. This nitrogen enhanced grade of steel (NE316LN SS) was found to have significantly better tensile, creep, low cycle fatigue and creep-fatigue properties as compared to the PFBR grade of 316L(N) SS. This paper presents the influence of nitrogen on the creep deformation, damage and fracture behaviour of NE316LN SS. Design of high temperature SFR components is made on the basis of RCC-MR design code. The creep properties of NE316LN SS have been analysed in terms of the procedures for generation of the design code. Time–dependent design curves have been generated.     

Study on creep deformation mechanism of 316LN stainless steel from impression creep tests

Abstract

Impression creep tests were carried out on 316LN stainless steel (SS) at various temperatures in the range 898–973 K. The stress dependence of the steady state impression velocity followed the power-law with stress exponent n?=?6. The temperature dependence of the steady state impression velocity obeyed Arrhenius type rate equation. The apparent activation energy for creep deformation (Q_c) was estimated to be 500 kJ mol^?1. Based on the n and Q_c values, it is concluded that the rate controlling mechanism is dislocation creep.     

Evaluation of tensile properties of austenitic stainless steel 316L with linear hardening by modified indentation method

Abstract

The instrumented indentation test has been widely used for the non-destructive evaluation of the tensile properties of metal materials. The true stress–strain curve, yield strength and tensile strength can be obtained by this method. In the present study, a new modified indentation algorithm was used to determine the tensile properties of austenitic stainless steel 316L by taking into account its linear hardening characteristic. As received 316L was solution treated at four different temperatures in the range of 1223–1473K for 2 h followed by water quenching. The effect of solution treatment temperature on the tensile properties of 316L was investigated by the instrumented indentation test using the modified indentation algorithm. Results reveal that the new modified indentation algorithm can be used to estimate the tensile properties of austenitic stainless steel with linear hardening.     

Effect of nitrogen content on dynamic strain ageing behaviour of type 316LN austenitic stainless steel during tensile deformation

Abstract

The effect of nitrogen content on the dynamic strain ageing (DSA) behaviour of type 316LN austenitic stainless steel has been studied. The nitrogen content was varied from 0·07 to 0·22 wt-%. The tensile tests were carried out over a temperature range of 300–1123 K and at three strain rates in the range 3×10^?3–3×10^?5 s^?1. Serration was observed in the load elongation curves in the intermediate test temperature range and has been considered due to DSA phenomenon. The critical strain to onset of serrated flow increased with increase in nitrogen content and strain rate. The temperature for onset of DSA and the temperature of disappearance of DSA were found to increase with the increase in nitrogen content. The variations in tensile strength and work hardening rate of the steel with temperature exhibit peak values in the intermediate temperature range and have been attributed due to DSA phenomenon. The activation energy for DSA, estimated based on the temperature and strain rate dependences of the strain to onset of serrated flow, was found to increase from 111 to 218 kJ mol^?1 with the increase in nitrogen content from 0·07 to 0·22 wt-% and the increase has been attributed to the possible enhanced interaction of the DSA causing interstitial nitrogen with substitutional chromium.     

Effect of post weld heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ITER-grade 316LN austenitic stainless steel weldments

The effect of postweld heat treatment (PWHT) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of ITER-grade 316LN austenitic stainless steel joints with ER316LMn filler material was investigated. PWHT aging was performed for 1 h at four different temperatures of 600 °C, 760 °C, 870 °C and 920 °C, respectively. The microstructure revealed the sigma phase precipitation occurred in the weld metals heat-treated at the temperature of 870 °C and 920 °C. The PWHT temperatures have the less effect on the tensile strength, and the maximum tensile strength of the joints is about 630 MPa, reaching the 95% of the base metal, whereas the elongation is enhanced with the rise of PWHT temperatures. Meanwhile, the sigma phase precipitation in the weld metals reduces the impact toughness.     

The effect of pre-strain on tensile behaviour of 316L austenitic stainless steel

ABSTRACT

The effect of pre-strain on tensile behaviour of 316L austenitic stainless steel was investigated, focusing on strain rate sensitivity, temperature sensitivity and strain hardening. Experimental data showed that strain rate sensitivity, temperature sensitivity and strain hardening were weakening with pre-strain. Meanwhile, the variation of microstructure with pre-strain was observed by optical microscopy, scanning electronic microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Then, the mechanical properties of pre-strained material were correlated with the increase in dislocation density and mechanical twinning with pre-strain. Finally, an improved Arrhenius-PS model considering the effect of pre-strain was developed.

This paper is part of a thematic issue on Nuclear Materials.     

Manifestations of dynamic strain aging under low and high cycle fatigue in a type 316LN stainless steel

Influence of Dynamic strain aging (DSA) under low cycle fatigue (LCF) and high cycle fatigue (HCF) loading was investigated by conducting LCF and HCF tests on specimens over a wide range of temperature from 573 to 973 K. DSA was found to be highly pronounced in the temperature range of 823–873 K. DSA was seen to have contrasting implications under LCF and HCF deformation. The cyclic hardening owing to DSA caused an increase in the cyclic stress response under LCF, leading to decrease in cyclic life. On the other hand, the DSA-induced strengthening suppressed the crack initiation phase under HCF where the applied stress remains fixed, leading to an increase in the cyclic life.     

核电管道用316LN不锈钢等离子切割工艺参数优化研究

为解决AP1000核电挤压成形厚壁管道等离子切割表面和切口成形质量差、裂纹多、后续加工量大等问题,本文搭建了大功率等离子切割试验平台,并针对20～100 mm厚核电管道用316LN不锈钢板材,采用控制变量法研究了等离子切割过程中主要工艺参数对切割质量的影响规律。研究结果表明：切割电流175～210 A,切割速度770～830 mm/min,气体压力0.56～0.64 MPa,喷嘴高度7.1～7.8 mm为20 mm厚316LN不锈钢等离子切割质量较好的工艺窗口;在等离子切割过程中,4个主要工艺参数对切割质量的影响规律曲线均为凹型;切割电流和切割速度之间的相互匹配显著影响切割的表面质量,切割速度对后拖量影响较大,喷嘴高度对切缝宽度及切口成形影响较大。将本文实验方法及工艺参数对切割质量的影响规律应用于60～100 mm厚316LN不锈钢切割工艺参数的优化研究,获得了中厚板等离子高质量切割的工艺窗口,实验验证表明,切割表面质量和切口成形质量均有明显提升,满足后续加工工艺要求,且去除量较小,可为核电厚壁不锈钢管道的高质量切割提供工艺参考。     

Influence of nitrogen on tensile properties of 316LN SS

Abstract

The influence of nitrogen on tensile properties of 316L stainless steels has been studied for nitrogen levels of 0·07, 0·11, 0·14 and 0·22 wt-%. Tensile tests have been carried out at several temperatures in the range 300–1123 K. Nitrogen was found to be beneficial for tensile strength at all the test temperatures. Yield strength and ultimate tensile strength were found to increase linearly with increase in nitrogen content at all the test temperatures. Tensile ductility showed a non-monotonic variation with nitrogen content and test temperature. Equations have been developed to predict yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of 316L stainless steel as a function of nitrogen content and tensile test temperature.     

Effect of strain rate on low cycle fatigue of 316LN stainless steel with varying nitrogen content: Part-I cyclic deformation behavior

The effect of strain rate and nitrogen content on cyclic deformation and substructural changes in 316LN stainless steel is investigated at temperatures 773, 823 and 873 K. Dynamic strain aging (DSA) and/or thermal-recovery processes are observed to control cyclic deformation, and the regimes of their predominance are mapped. An increase in nitrogen content and DSA enhanced cyclic stress and are found to offset thermal-recovery induced cyclic strength reduction. In addition, strain localization in the form of slip-bands impinging on grain boundary is observed. The predominance of thermal-recovery over DSA manifested as dislocation-poor channels, dislocation cells within and in-between planar slip-bands.     

An assessment of mechanical properties of P92 steel weld joint and simulated heat affected zones by ball indentation technique

Mechanical properties of P92 steel weld joint fabricated by shielded metal arc welding were evaluated using ball indentation (BI) technique. Microstructure of the P92 weld joint consisted of the weld metal, coarse grain region, fine grain region, intercritical region and base metal. The individual microstructural regions of the heat affected zones (HAZs) were separately prepared by heat treating the steel at particular temperatures. Ball indentation and uniaxial tensile tests were carried out across the weld joint and on the simulated HAZ microstructures at temperatures of 300 K (27 °C) and 623 K (350 °C). The tensile strengths gradually decreased from weld metal to the base metal with trough in the intercritical region (ICR) of the joint and simulated at 1173 K (900 °C) steel. The formation of coarser M₂₃C₆ precipitates and sub-grain formation with reduced dislocation density led to soften the ICR/simulated at 1173 K (900 °C) steel than the other regions of the joint. The variation of mechanical properties across the joint was comparable with variation of hardness and microstructural constituents across the joint.     

Enhanced tensile properties of 316L steel via grain refinement and low-strain rolling

Excellent strength–ductility synergy of metallic materials is significant for their industrial applications. This study presents a fine-grained 316L stainless sheet (average grain size of ～5?µm) with a good combination of strength and ductility achieved via low-strain cold rolling (rolling strain of 30%). The fabricated steel sheet exhibits maximum yield strength and ultimate tensile strength values of 1045 and 1080?MPa, respectively, with a uniform elongation of 7%. Experimental results confirm that the high density of dislocations, strain-induced martensitic phase, and deformation twins together contribute to the high strength of the rolled stainless steel. Moreover, its good ductility is attributable to the strain-induced martensitic transformation and deformation twins.     

316LN钢的高温本构模型与热加工图

目的 研究316LN钢的高温变形行为,确定最佳加工区间并优化工艺参数。方法 利用Gleeble热模拟实验机在变形温度为1 000～1 150℃、应变速率为0.001～10 s^-1条件下对316LN钢进行热压缩实验。根据实验数据分别绘制不同变形温度和不同应变速率下的流变应力曲线。在传统Arrhenius双曲正弦关系的基础上,考虑应变量的影响,通过五次多项式拟合建立316LN钢的改进型本构模型,基于动态材料模型及Prasad塑性失稳判据计算得到材料的能量耗散图和流变失稳图,将二者叠加得到316LN钢的热加工图。结果 流变应力曲线呈现典型的动态再结晶特征,且随着应变速率的增大和变形温度的升高,316LN钢的压缩应力逐渐减小,耦合应变量的本构模型预测值与实验值的相关系数达0.9888,吻合度较高。通过建立热加工图并对比金相组织发现,316LN钢在“安全区”能量耗散效率较大的区域更容易发生动态再结晶行为。结论 高变形温度、低应变速率条件更有利于软化机制的发生,改进型本构模型精度较高,可对316LN钢热变形过程中的流变应力进行准确预测。通过构建热加工图确定了316LN钢的最佳...     

Application of Taguchi method in optimizing the microstructure of 316LN austenitic stainless steel

The hot deformation behavior of AISI 316LN austenitic stainless steel was studied through isothermal hot deformation tests conducted on Gleeble 1500 thermo‐simulation machine. By using Taguchi method with an L16 (4³) orthogonal array, the hot deformation conditions including deformation temperature, strain rate and strain were optimized for obtaining minimum mean grain size of the steel. Analysis of variance was used for determining the effect of the hot deformation parameters on the mean grain size. The results suggested that the strain had the most significant effect on the mean grain size among the three factors. The percent contributions of deformation temperature, strain rate and strain to the mean grain size were 0.80 %, 2.45 % and 93.32 %, respectively. Finally, the confirmation experiment under the optimum conditions, i.e., 1050 °C temperature, 0.01 s^–1 strain rate and 0.7 strain was carried out. The observational mean grain size (11.4 μm) is approximately twelve times smaller than that of the initial microstructure.     

Morphologies and characteristics of deformation induced martensite during tensile deformation of 304 LN stainless steel

The austenite γ (fcc) matrix of 304 LN stainless steel transforms readily to martensites (hcp) and ′ (bcc) on deformation. The formation and nucleation mechanism of deformation induced martensite (DIM) during tensile deformation of 304 LN stainless steel has been studied at various strain rates in room temperature. It is investigated that the enhancement of strain rates during tensile deformation promotes the early formation of DIM, while suppressing its saturation value at fracture. Extensive transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies showed more than one nucleation site for martensite transformation and the transformation mechanisms were observed to be γ (fcc) →  (hcp), γ (fcc) → ′ (bcc) and γ (fcc) →  (hcp) → ′ (bcc).     

Simulation of low cycle fatigue stress‐strain response in 316LN stainless steel using non‐linear isotropic kinematic hardening model—A comparison of different approaches

Cyclic stress‐strain response of 316LN stainless steel subjected to low cycle fatigue at strain amplitude of ±0.4% and at 873 K is simulated using finite element analysis with non‐linear isotropic‐kinematic hardening Chaboche model. Four different approaches have been used in simulating cyclic stress response and hysteresis loops: 3 based on Chaboche model‐parameters and the fourth on direct experimental data (stabilized loop and cyclic stress‐strain curve [CSSC]). Among them, simulations performed with direct experimental data have not yielded expected initial cyclic response. The source of data used for evaluation of kinematic‐hardening (KH) parameters determined the extent of closeness between experimental results and Chaboche‐model predictions. KH parameters determined from first‐cycle loop and modified‐CSSC predicted the overall stress‐strain response (from initial to stabilized condition) with reasonable fit, compared with other approaches. All 4 approaches though predicted stabilized response, simulations based on “KH‐parameters from stabilized‐cycle” accurately described stabilized response with coefficient of determination (r²) 0.995.