Overview of the HIDA Project

HIDA is a large research, development and validation project aimed at harmonising and expanding current high temperature crack assessment procedures and practices with a view to developing a unified European/International procedure. The project involves analysis of currently available data and generation of data from various standard fracture mechanics and validation type feature specimens on a range of steels used in high temperature plant. The project covers creep, high temperature fatigue and creep fatigue interaction.

HIDA is supported by the European Commission's Brite Euram programme. It is a collaborative programme between eleven organisations from seven European countries.

This paper outlines the background issues and methodology being applied to achieve the project objectives. Details of progress to date are covered in other papers being presented at this Conference.