Influence of uniaxial ratchetting on low cycle fatigue behviour of SA 333 Gr. 6 C–Mn steel

Ratchetting behaviour and its influence on the subsequent low cycle fatigue behaviour of a plain carbon steel (SA 333 Gr. 6) has been evaluated. Uniaxial stress controlled ratchetting experiments have been carried out at various combinations of mean stress and stress amplitudes. It is noted that the ratchetting strain increased with increasing mean stress and stress amplitude. Maximum strain accumulation was observed for the highest value of the peak stress, irrespective of the stress ratio. Further, post ratchetting-low cycle fatigue (LCF) tests have been carried out and compared with non-ratchetted base LCF behaviour. The comparison showed that the fatigue life decreased in proportion to the accumulated ratchetting strain. This indicates that accumulation of significant ratchetting strain can be detrimental to the fatigue life and must be avoided. Mean stress induced due to pre-ratchetting is found to be responsible for the decrease in LCF fatigue life.     

Predictions for fatigue crack growth life of cracked pipes and pipe welds using RMS SIF approach and experimental validation

The objective of the present study is to understand the fatigue crack growth behavior in austenitic stainless steel pipes and pipe welds by carrying out analysis/predictions and experiments. The Paris law has been used for the prediction of fatigue crack growth life. To carry out the analysis, Paris constants have been determined for pipe (base) and pipe weld materials by using Compact Tension (CT) specimens machined from the actual pipe/pipe weld. Analyses have been carried out to predict the fatigue crack growth life of the austenitic stainless steel pipes/pipes welds having part through cracks on the outer surface. In the analyses, Stress Intensity Factors (K) have been evaluated through two different schemes. The first scheme considers the ‘K’ evaluations at two points of the crack front i.e. maximum crack depth and crack tip at the outer surface. The second scheme accounts for the area averaged root mean square stress intensity factor (K_RMS) at deepest and surface points. Crack growth and the crack shape with loading cycles have been evaluated. In order to validate the analytical procedure/results, experiments have been carried out on full scale pipe and pipe welds with part through circumferential crack. Fatigue crack growth life evaluated using both schemes have been compared with experimental results. Use of stress intensity factor (K_RMS) evaluated using second scheme gives better fatigue crack growth life prediction compared to that of first scheme. Fatigue crack growth in pipe weld (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) can be predicted well using Paris constants of base material but prediction is non-conservative for pipe weld (Shielded Metal Arc Welding). Further, predictions using fatigue crack growth rate curve of ASME produces conservative results for pipe and GTAW pipe welds and comparable results for SMAW pipe welds.     

Assessment of integrity of components in piping of 500 MWe PHWR: using R-6 method

The primary heat transport system of 500 MWe Indian PHWR comprises of straight pipes, elbows and headers. A study was conducted to qualify piping system for leak before break. R-6 method was used to assess integrity of system for leakage size crack (LSC), the margins on crack initiation load and unstable crack growth loads. Option 2 (material specific failure assessment diagram), Category 3 (ductile tearing) analysis was used for straight pipes, elbows and header. In order to enhance the confidence in the analytical results, detailed sensitivity analysis was also performed. For sensitivity analysis, variation in material properties, LSC was considered. The effect of variation in temperature on material properties was also considered. Tensile and fracture properties used for base and weld material data were generated from pipe material obtained from 220 MWe Nuclear Power Plant, under construction.     

Adaptive Linear Quadratic Regulator for Continuous-Time Systems With Uncertain Dynamics

In this paper, adaptive linear quadratic regulator (LQR) is proposed for continuous-time systems with uncertain dynamics. The dynamic state-feedback controller uses input-output data along the system trajectory to continuously adapt and converge to the optimal controller. The result differs from previous results in that the adaptive optimal controller is designed without the knowledge of the system dynamics and an initial stabilizing policy. Further, the controller is updated continuously using input-output data, as opposed to the commonly used switched/intermittent updates which can potentially lead to stability issues. An online state derivative estimator facilitates the design of a model-free controller. Gradient-based update laws are developed for online estimation of the optimal gain. Uniform exponential stability of the closed-loop system is established using the Lyapunov-based analysis, and a simulation example is provided to validate the theoretical contribution.      

Effect of Cationic Surfactant Head Groups on Synthesis, Growth and Agglomeration Behavior of ZnS Nanoparticles

Colloidal nanodispersions of ZnS have been prepared using aqueous micellar solution of two cationic surfactants of trimethylammonium/pyridinium series with different head groups i.e., cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) and cetyltrimethylpyridinium chloride (CPyC). The role of these surfactants in controlling size, agglomeration behavior and photophysical properties of ZnS nanoparticles has been discussed. UV–visible spectroscopy has been carried out for determination of optical band gap and size of ZnS nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering were used to measure sizes and size distribution of ZnS nanoparticles. Powder X-ray analysis (Powder XRD) reveals the cubic structure of nanocrystallite in powdered sample. The photoluminescence emission band exhibits red shift for ZnS nanoparticles in CTAC compared to those in CPyC. The aggregation behavior in two surfactants has been compared using turbidity measurements after redispersing the nanoparticles in water. In situ evolution and growth of ZnS nanoparticles in two different surfactants have been compared through time-dependent absorption behavior and UV irradiation studies. Electrical conductivity measurements reveal that CPyC micelles better stabilize the nanoparticles than that of CTAC.     

Three dimensional distribution of the mastic in asphalt composites

The microstructure of the fine aggregate matrix has a significant influence on the mechanical properties and evolution of damage in an asphalt mixture. This paper presents the findings from a study conducted to identify a quantitative method to characterize the three-dimensional microstructure of the matrix in an asphalt mixture. The influence of binder content, coarse aggregate gradation, and fine aggregate gradation on the microstructure of the matrix was also investigated. Results indicate that for a given aggregate type, binder content and aggregate gradation influence the degree of anisotropy whereas gradation of the coarse aggregate has the most influence on the direction of anisotropy of the asphalt mastic. Addition of asphalt binder or adjustments to the fine aggregate gradation also resulted in a more uniform spatial distribution of the asphalt mastic.     

Interaction nonlinearity in asphalt binders

Asphalt mixtures are complex composites that comprise aggregate, asphalt binder, and air. Several research studies have shown that the mechanical behavior of the asphalt mixture is strongly influenced by the matrix, i.e. the asphalt binder. Characterization and a thorough understanding of the binder behavior is the first and crucial step towards developing an accurate constitutive model for the composite. Accurate constitutive models for the constituent materials are critical to ensure accurate performance predictions at a material and structural level using micromechanics. This paper presents the findings from a systematic investigation into the nature of the linear and nonlinear response of asphalt binders subjected to different types of loading using the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR). Laboratory test data show that a compressive normal force is generated in an axially constrained specimen subjected to torsional shear. This paper investigates the source of this normal force and demonstrates that the asphalt binder can dilate when subjected to shear loads. This paper also presents the findings from a study conducted to investigate the source of the nonlinearity in the asphalt binder. Test results demonstrate that the application of cyclic shear loads results in the development of a normal force and a concomitant reduction in the dynamic shear modulus. This form of nonlinear response is referred to as an “interaction nonlinearity”. A combination of experimental and analytical tools is used to demonstrate and verify the presence of this interaction nonlinearity in asphalt binders. The findings from this study highlight the importance of modeling the mechanical behavior of asphalt binders based on the overall stress state of the material.     

Characterisation of crack tip stresses in elastic-perfectly plastic material under mode-I loading

Asymptotic crack tip stress fields are developed for a stationary plane strain crack in incompressible elastic-perfectly plastic material under mode-I loading. Detailed investigations have revealed that in between the two extreme conditions of crack tip constraint, that is, between the fully plastic Prandtl [1] field and the uniform stress field the most general elastic-plastic crack tip fields can be completely described by the 5-sector stress solution proposed in this article. The 3-sector stress field proposed by Li and Hancock [2] and the 4-sector field proposed by Zhu and Chao [3] are subsets of the general elastic-plastic field proposed in this work. This study has revealed that cases arise where the severe loss of crack tip constraint can lead to compressive yielding of crack flank. This particular situation leads to 5-sector stress field. Detailed studies have revealed that, in the most general case of elastic-plastic crack tip fields, the T_π parameter proposed by Zhu and Chao [3] cannot be used as a constraint parameter to represent a unique state of stress at the crack tip. A new constraint-indexing parameter T_CS-2 is proposed, which along with T_p is capable of representing the entire elastic-plastic crack tip stress fields over all angles around a crack tip. Excellent agreement is obtained between the proposed asymptotic crack tip stress field and the full-field finite element results for constraint levels ranging from high to low. It is demonstrated that the proposed constraint parameters are adequate to represent the crack tip constraint arising due to specimen geometry and loading conditions as well as the additional constraint that arises due to weld strength mismatch.     

Experimental investigation of local tensile and fracture resistance behaviour of dissimilar metal weld joint: SA508 Gr.3 Cl.1 and SA312 Type 304LN

The aim of the paper is to evaluate the local tensile and fracture toughness properties of the dissimilar metal weld joints between SA508Gr.3 Cl.1 and SA312 Type 304LN pipe. Weld joints have been prepared by manual gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process with conventional V‐groove and automatic hot wire gas tungsten arc welding with narrow gap using different filler wires/electrode such as Inconel 82/Inconel 182 and ER309L/ER308L. The tensile and fracture toughness test specimens have been machined from different regions of dissimilar metal weld such as heat affected zones, fusion lines, buttering layer, weld metal and both base metals. Tensile and fracture toughness tests have been carried out as per the ASTM standard E8 and E1820 respectively. Tensile and fracture toughness results of all the regions of dissimilar metal weld joints have been discussed in this paper. Metallurgical and fracture surface examinations have also been reported to substantiate the tensile and fracture toughness results. Need for the local properties for integrity assessment of the dissimilar metal weld joints has also been brought out.