A new monitoring system for piping systems in fossil fired power plants

A CEC-funded project has been performed to tackle the problem of producing an advanced Life Monitoring System (LMS) which would calculate the creep and fatigue damage experienced by high temperature pipework components. Four areas were identified where existing Life Monitoring System technology could be improved:

1. 1. the inclusion of creep relaxation

2. 2. the inclusion of external loads on components

3. 3. a more accurate method of calculating thermal stresses due to temperature transients

4. 4. the inclusion of high cycle fatigue terms.

The creep relaxation problem was solved using stress reduction factors in an analytical in-elastic stress calculation. The stress reduction factors were produced for a number of common geometries and materials by means of non-linear finite element analysis. External loads were catered for by producing influence coefficients from in-elastic analysis of the particular piping system and using them to calculate bending moments at critical positions on the pipework from load and displacement measurements made at the convenient points at the pipework. The thermal stress problem was solved by producing a completely new solution based on Green's Function and Fast Fourier transforms. This allowed the thermal stress in a complex component to be calculated from simple non-intrusive thermocouple measurements made on the outside of the component. The high-cycle fatigue problem was dealt with precalculating the fatigue damage associated with standard transients and adding this damage to cumulative total when a transient occurred.

The site testing provided good practical experience and showed up problems which would not otherwise have been detected.     

Growth Stresses in the Oxide Scales on TiAl Alloys at 800 and 900°C

In the oxidation of TiAl alloys, the role of scale-growth stresses formed during oxidation has, thus far, been unknown. In the present paper the oxide-growth stresses were investigated by the deflection-test method in monofacial oxidation (DTMO) accompanied by acoustic-emission measurements. On unmodified surfaces the growth stresses are compressive and reach levels of around –100 MPa. At the same time, significant acoustic emission occurs indicating that even under isothermal conditions, stresses are relieved by a scale-cracking mechanism. For oxide scales on TiAl surfaces, which had been ion implanted with chlorine before oxidation, a very thin protective alumina layer is formed which, however, develops growth stresses in the range of several GPa, accompanied by intensive acoustic emission. In all stress–time curves, a dynamic situation is observed. This consists of phases of stress relief by scale microcracking and phases of stresses increase due to crack healing and further oxide growth. As a result, the level of stress as a function of oxidation time, is characterized by an oscillating course.     

单轴传动滚切式双边剪薄钢板剪后“错牙”及“飞边”的原因分析与对策

针对单轴传动滚切式双边剪生产过程中出现的薄钢板经双边剪剪后出现“错牙”及“飞边”的问题,从多个方面入手对薄钢板出现“错牙”及“飞边”的原因进行了分析对比,提出了相应的解决方案,对今后滚切式双边剪的设计、制造及安装调试有借鉴和参考价值。     

Evaluating the mixing performance of a ribbon blender

This paper investigates the effects of processing and equipment parameters of a ribbon blender (i.e. loading method of lubricant, fill level, blade speed and blade design) on magnesium stearate homogeneity. A core sampling technique is used to obtain at least one hundred samples per sampling event, which are extracted throughout the blender and yield a thorough characterization of the entire bed. The results presented here can be used as a guideline to develop appropriate blending processes and characterization protocols for ribbon blenders.     

Life Calculations for Header – PGV-1000 Steam Generator Connector Weld Joints under NPP Service Conditions

The procedure for calculating the life of header – steam generator connector weld joints is proposed. It allows for running out the material plasticity reserve upon static cyclic elastoplastic loading as well as operating conditions, local stress concentrations, and residual stresses after welding.     

Critical Shear Stress of Bimodal Sediment in Sand-Gravel Rivers

A new model for the critical shear stress and the transport of graded sediment is presented. The model is based on the size distribution of the bed surface and can be used to compute sediment transport rates in numerical simulations with an active layer model. This model makes a distinction between unimodal and bimodal sediments. It is assumed that all size fractions of unimodal sediments have the same critical shear stress while there is selective transport for the gravel fractions of bimodal sediments. A recently published laboratory transport data set is used to calibrate our model.     

Defining Yield from Bender Element Measurements in Triaxial Stress Probe Experiments

This paper describes the elastic response of a block sample of compressible Chicago glacial clay under a variety of stresses and its relationship with the deformation characteristics at relatively large strains. The elastic shear stiffness was obtained from bender element tests during consolidation and shearing in drained triaxial stress probe tests. An empirical correlation was established based on the elastic shear stiffness in a preyield condition. By comparing the empirical correlation with the measured elastic shear stiffness in the stress region during probing, the changes of elastic shear stiffness were investigated. The departure of elastic shear stiffness from values computed by the empirical relation based on K0 loading directly relates to the yielding characteristics of the clay. The large-scale change of soil structure at yielding alters the well-established relationship between the elastic shear stiffness and stresses in the preyield condition. The mechanical yielding response of clays can be detected based on the systematic analysis of the elastic shear wave velocities.     

Evaluation of Laminated Circular Elastomeric Bearings

This paper evaluates the behavior and performance of laminated circular elastomeric bearings and compares them to those of square and rectangular bearings. The study included an experimental evaluation and a nationwide survey of state Department of Transportations on the use and performance of circular bearings and bearings in general in their states. The experimental investigation studied the bearings' behavior in compression, compression and rotation, and compression and shear. Results from this limited study showed that the three bearings have similar stress-strain behavior in compression and they are in agreement with the AASHTO LRFD guide stress–strain curves. In compression and rotation, the AASHTO LRFD substructure moments are slightly less than the measured values for circular bearings and rectangular bearings rotated about their strong axis for a compressive stress of 10.3?MPa (1.5?ksi) and slightly higher than those of rectangular bearings rotated about their weak axis. In compression and shear, the shear stiffness of circular and square bearings is in agreement with theoretical values within the range of design displacements. Results from the survey showed that many states are using circular bearings and more states would consider using them, however no maintenance or monitoring data were available on their short-term and long-term performance.     

Determination of shear strength values according to EN 408

This paper presents the results of 382 shear tests carried out according to EN 408. The test pieces consisted of spruce (Picea abies) and varied in density and ring width orientation (radial, tangential and at an angle of 45° to the steel plates). In addition pieces containing pith and knots were tested. The paper discusses problems observed when using this test configuration and shows that the test results do not support the characteristic shear strength values as given in EN 338. Moreover, the test results do not support the relationship between characteristic shear strength and characteristic bending strength as given in EN 384.

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Résumé Cet article présente les résultats de 382 essais de cisaillement menés conformément à EN 408. Les éprouvettes d’essai sont en épicéa (Picea abies) et présentent une variabilité en termes de masse volumique et d’orientation des cernes d’accroissement (radiale, tangentielle, à un angle de 45° par rapport aux plaques métalliques). Des éprouvettes supplémentaires contenant du cœur et des nœuds ont également été testées. L’article évoque les problèmes qui ont été mis en évidence lors de l’utilisation de ce dispositif expérimental et montre que les résultats expérimentaux ne sont pas en accord avec les valeurs caractéristiques de résistance au cisaillement données dans EN 338. De plus, ces résultats ne confirment pas la relation entre résistance caractéristique au cisaillement et résistance caractéristique à la flexion telle que stipulée dans EN 384.

     

Thermomechanical Models of Irreversible Finite Deformation of Anisotropic Solids

The proposed models for irreversible finite deformation of initially anisotropic solids are based on the hypothesis of the parameters of state, for which the authors have chosen a universal parameter (temperature) and a strain component, which is analogous to volume strains in an isotropic body and represents thermal strains of an unconstrained (stress-free) anisotropic solid. The application of this hypothesis allows the strain tensor to be resolved into a reversible and irreversible components. For irreversible processes of finite deformation of hardenable materials, the authors have proposed a deformation-type model, which makes it possible to describe a change in the type of anisotropy of initially anisotropic materials in the course of deformation. For the flow-theory-type model, the limiting state function, as given in the space of irreversible strains, allows for the experimentally observed plastic flow of anisotropic crystals under the action of hydrostatic pressure only.