Title: Crack initiation in steel parts working under thermo-mechanical fatigue conditions

Authors: Donat Renowicz, Marek Ciesla

Addresses: Silesian University of Technology, 40-019 Katowice, ul. Krasinskiego 8, Poland. ' Silesian University of Technology, 40-019 Katowice, ul. Krasinskiego 8, Poland

Abstract: Thermo-mechanical fatigue conditions influencing the processes of material degradation and durability have been analysed in this paper. The crack initiation process in T-connection working in the steam pipeline has been assumed as the critical state of material for life assessment criterion. For elaboration of simulation programme of mechanical loading spectrum and temperature changes, the operation data of the object have been applied. It was used for elaboration of laboratory parameter investigations. For lifetime prediction of the parts of pipeline, the spectrum of thermo-mechanical loading under real conditions of work has been adapted. This paper refers to the research on steel 10H2M (10CrMo.910) used in the conventional boilers, superheaters and pipelines in power plants. The parts working in energy industry very often decide about disposal of the boiler. [Received 13 November 2006, Accepted 22 January 2007]

Keywords: crack initiation; steel parts; thermomechanical fatigue; residual life analysis; fracture mechanics; materials properties; material degradation; durability; steam pipelines; boilers; superheaters; power plants; simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCMSSE.2007.016433

International Journal of Computational Materials Science and Surface Engineering, 2007 Vol.1 No.4, pp.424 - 437

Published online: 28 Dec 2007 *

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