scholarly journals Characterization of Austenitic Stainless Steels with Regard to Environmentally Assisted Fatigue in Simulated Light Water Reactor Conditions

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Matthias Bruchhausen ◽  
Gintautas Dundulis ◽  
Alec McLennan ◽  
Sergio Arrieta ◽  
Tim Austin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Elevated Temperature ◽  
Strain Rate ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Hold Time ◽  
Strain Range ◽  
Austenitic Steels ◽  
Mean Strain

A substantial amount of research effort has been applied to the field of environmentally assisted fatigue (EAF) due to the requirement to account for the EAF behaviour of metals for existing and new build nuclear power plants. We present the results of the European project INcreasing Safety in NPPs by Covering Gaps in Environmental Fatigue Assessment (INCEFA-PLUS), during which the sensitivities of strain range, environment, surface roughness, mean strain and hold times, as well as their interactions on the fatigue life of austenitic steels has been characterized. The project included a test campaign, during which more than 250 fatigue tests were performed. The tests did not reveal a significant effect of mean strain or hold time on fatigue life. An empirical model describing the fatigue life as a function of strain rate, environment and surface roughness is developed. There is evidence for statistically significant interaction effects between surface roughness and the environment, as well as between surface roughness and strain range. However, their impact on fatigue life is so small that they are not practically relevant and can in most cases be neglected. Reducing the environmental impact on fatigue life by modifying the temperature or strain rate leads to an increase of the fatigue life in agreement with predictions based on NUREG/CR-6909. A limited sub-programme on the sensitivity of hold times at elevated temperature at zero force conditions and at elevated temperature did not show the beneficial effect on fatigue life found in another study.

Finite-Element Analysis of Crack Growth in Austenitic Stainless Steel Under Equibiaxial Loading

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Dhahri ◽  
C. Gourdin ◽  
H. Maitournam
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Austenitic Stainless Steel ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Austenitic Steels ◽  
Biaxial Test ◽  
New Device ◽  
Penalty Factor ◽  
Mean Strain

The lifetime extension of the nuclear power plants is considered as an energy challenge worldwide. That is why, the risk analysis and the study of various effects of different factors that could potentially represent a hazard to a safe long term operation are necessary. These structures, often of great dimensions, are subjected during their life to complex loading combining varying mechanical loads, multiaxial, with non-zero mean values associated with temperature fluctuations and also PWR environment. Based on more recent fatigue data (including tests at 300°C in air and PWR environment, etc...), some international codes (RCC-M [2], ASME and others [3][4][5]) have introduced a modification of the austenitic stainless steels fatigue curve combined with a calculation of an environmental penalty factor, namely Fen, which has to be multiplied by the usual fatigue usage factor [6]. Unfortunately, experimental data on this issue are rare. In order to obtain fatigue strength data under structural loading, biaxial test means with and without PWR environment were developed at LISN in collaboration with EDF and AREVA [6]. Two kinds of fatigue device have been developed. Within the same specimen geometry, structural loads can be applied in varying only the PWR environment. The first device (FABIME2) is devoted to study the effect of biaxiality and mean strain/stress on the fatigue life [9]. A second and new device called FABIME2e is for the study of the environmental effect. With these new experimental results, the PWR environment effect on the fatigue life of stainless austenitic steels will be quantified accurately on semi-structure specimen. This device combines the structural effect like equi-biaxiality and mean strain and the environmental penalty effect with the use of PWR environment during the fatigue tests. The aim of this paper is to present the numerical interpretation of the results obtained with these two devices “FABIME2” and “FABIME2e”. Two important aspects will be addressed. The first concerns the mechanical behavior of austenitic stainless steel and the capabilities of the numerical model to reproduce the hardening of the material. And the second concerns the study of the crack growth during the equibiaxial fatigue test.

Examination of Factors in the Modified Rate Approach Method Under Various Conditions

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuichi Fukuta ◽  
Seiji Asada ◽  
Yuichiro Nomura ◽  
Hiroshi Kanasaki
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Elevated Temperature ◽  
Strain Rate ◽  
Fatigue Damage ◽  
Correction Factor ◽  
Strain Range ◽  
Approach Method ◽  
Fatigue Evaluation ◽  
Response To Temperature ◽  
Temperature Water

Fatigue life in elevated-temperature water is affected by water chemistry, temperature, and strain rate. To evaluate these effects, the environmental fatigue life correction factor was established. And to evaluate fatigue damage in actual plants where factors such as temperature and strain rate are not constant, the modified rate approach method was developed. In order to confirm the applicability of these methods, several tests were carried out under a condition in which strain rate changes in response to temperature and fatigue life could be evaluated with an accuracy of a factor of 3, but conservatism was observed. In this evaluation, conservatism of environmental fatigue prediction is studied. To minimize conservatism in environmental fatigue evaluation, four factors are examined. As a result of examination, we conclude that an improvement the environmental fatigue life correction factor and application of a strain range insensitive to the environment may reduce conservatism, and that investigation into the mechanism of reduction in fatigue life is necessary for further improvement.

The Effect of Strain Rate on Low Cycle Fatigue Life with Hold Time for USC Candidate Rotor Material

2010 ◽  
pp. 217-229
Author(s):  
Kuk-cheol Kim ◽  
Byeong-ook Kong ◽  
Min-soo Kim ◽  
Sung-tae Kang
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Strain Rate ◽  
Low Cycle Fatigue ◽  
Hold Time ◽  
Cycle Fatigue

Fatigue Evaluation Under Continuous Strain Rate Changing Condition of Carbon Steel in BWR Environment

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihiko Hirano ◽  
Satoko Mizuta
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Strain Rate ◽  
Fatigue Test ◽  
Fatigue Tests ◽  
Wave Form ◽  
Strain Wave ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Component Size ◽  
Fatigue Evaluation

Fatigue evaluation methods have been proposed based on environmental fatigue test results regarding parameters selected for simulating Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) and Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) conditions. The effects of strain wave form have been discussed by comparing experimental fatigue life with predicted fatigue life evaluated by modified rate approach (MRA) method. The applicability of the MRA method has been verified extensively by the environmental fatigue tests with strain rate changing conditions consisting of combined constant strain rates. However, different results have been obtained for a sine strain wave in simulated BWR and PWR conditions. More study for evaluating the applicability of MRA method was required by evaluating with continuous strain rate conditions such as a sine wave. For the purpose of verification, two approaches were applied. One is performing the environmental fatigue tests with the sine strain wave in simulated BWR condition. The other is to evaluate the low cycle thermal fatigue test performed in simulated BWR condition because the wave form of this test contains continuous strain rate changing condition. MRA method was indicated to be applicable to predict fatigue lives under these kinds of continuous strain rate changing conditions. All of the studies including this study verifying the applicability of the MRA method were performed with small specimens having the well polished surfaces in the gage length. These results indicate that the evaluation by the MRA method includes the synergistic effect between the water environment and the transient. However, the synergistic effects with the surface roughness and the component size are not known. Design margin derived by the multiplication of the sub-factors of environment, surface roughness and component size may be conservative. The evaluation of the conservatism is considered to be beneficial.

Fatigue Properties of Superelastic Ti-Ni Filaments Used in Braided Cables for Bone Fixation

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. 235-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannick Baril ◽  
Vladimir Brailovski ◽  
Patrick Terriault
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Strain Range ◽  
Fatigue Properties ◽  
Cyclic Testing ◽  
Testing Conditions ◽  
Bone Fixation ◽  
Ni Alloys ◽  
Strain Magnitude ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mean Strain

Superelastic 0.1mm diameter Ti-Ni filaments are used to manufacture braided orthopedic cable for bone fixation. Biomechanical conditions for this application generally have a cyclic nature, and therefore it becomes important to evaluate the influence of the installation (mean) strain on the fatigue life of these filaments. Uniaxial tension cyclic testing of Ti-Ni filaments is performed in a water bath at 37°C with a 2Hz frequency of to 100 000 cycles. Strain-controlled testing conditions are as follows: alternating strain magnitude varies between 0.64 and 3.64% with mean strain range between 1.32 and 7.1%. Based on the premises that the minimum strain should be high enough to prevent any loss of tension in the tested specimen and that the maximum strain should not bring the specimen to failure during the first loading cycle, the total strain magnitude is encompassed between 0.68 and 8.94%. The results obtained provide a better understanding of the impact mean strain has on the fatigue life of superelastic Ti-Ni alloys.

Verification of the Prediction Methods of Strain Range in Notched Specimens Made of Mod.9Cr-1Mo

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masanori Ando ◽  
Yuichi Hirose ◽  
Shingo Date ◽  
Sota Watanabe ◽  
Yasuhiro Enuma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Elevated Temperature ◽  
Low Cycle Fatigue ◽  
Strain Range ◽  
Fatigue Tests ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Prediction Methods ◽  
Test Machine ◽  
Notched Specimens ◽  
Creep Fatigue

Several innovative prediction methods of strain range have been developed in order to apply to the Generation IV plants. In a component design at elevated temperature, ‘strain range’ is used to calculate the fatigue and creep-fatigue damage. Therefore, prediction of ‘strain range’ is one of the most important issues to evaluate the components’ integrity during these lifetimes. To verify the strain prediction method of discontinues structures at evaluated temperature, low cycle fatigue tests were carried out with notched specimens. All the specimens were made of Mod.9Cr-1Mo, because it is a candidate material for a primary and secondary heat transports system components of JSFR (Japanese Sodium Fast Reactor). Deformation control fatigue tests and thermal fatigue tests were performed by ordinary uni-axial push-pull test machine and equipment generating the thermal gradient in the notched plate by induction heating. Stress concentration level was changed by varying the notch radius in the both kind of tests. Crack initiation and propagation process during the fatigue test were observed by the digital micro-scope and replica method. Elastic and inelastic FEAs were also carried out to estimate the ‘strain range’ for the prediction of fatigue life. Then the ranges of several strain predictions and estimations were compared with the test results. These predictions were based on the sophisticated technique to estimate the ‘strain range’ from elastic FEA. Stress reduction locus (SRL) method, simple elastic follow-up method, Neuber’s rule method and the methods supplied by elevated temperature design standards were applied. Through these results, the applicability and conservativeness of these strain prediction and estimation methods, which is the basis of the creep-fatigue life prediction, is discussed.

Effect of Strain Amplitudes and Mean Strain Values on Fatigue Life at Elevated Temperature

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin-ichi Watanabe ◽  
Koh-ichi Imamura ◽  
Osamu Watanabe ◽  
Akihiro Matsuda
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Elevated Temperature ◽  
Strain Amplitude ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Random Wave ◽  
Miner’S Rule ◽  
Miner's Rule ◽  
Number Of Cycles ◽  
Mean Strain

This paper shows randomness effects of loading amplitude and mean value of displacement-controlled loading history for perforated plates made of SUS304 stainless steel at elevated temperature of 550°C. Under the random wave of strain amplitude, the fracture behavior at elevated temperature environment is clarified by measuring the load-deflection curve at all cycles. The data of experiments were evaluated by Miner’s rule, which has been established as an evaluation method for load variation problem. Number of cycles to fracture is compared to show the good agreement with the Best Fit Fatigue curve (BFF). Peak count method also was used in calculating frequency of the strain in order to evaluate Miner’s rule, and the local strain concentration is calculated based on Stress Redistribution Locus (SRL) method. The other object of this study is to evaluate effect of mean value of strain in loading diagram on fatigue life. The mean strain were used for the cases of R = −0.0, −0.2, −0.4, −0.8 and −1.0. The crack length is measured by using photographs with the CCD video camera at a constant frequency. From the measurement, it is found that the number of cycles to failure is reduced when the absolute of value of mean strain is decreased. And cracks develop at both sides around the hole, but the growth of each crack may not be symmetric. By using these inelastic strain amplitude and crack initiation cycle, the experimented results are shown at the present study.

INCEFA-PLUS: Increasing Safety in NPPs by Covering Gaps in Environmental Fatigue Assessment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Mottershead ◽  
Matthias Bruchhausen ◽  
Sergio Cicero ◽  
Sam Cuvilliez
Keyword(s):  
Strain Amplitude ◽  
Surface Finish ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Hold Time ◽  
Austenitic Stainless Steels ◽  
Common Interest ◽  
The Status ◽  
Assessment Guidelines ◽  
Mean Strain

Abstract INCEFA-PLUS is a five year project supported by the European Commission HORIZON2020 programme. The project concludes in June 2020. 16 organisations from across Europe have combined forces to deliver new experimental data which is being used to develop improved guidelines for assessment of environmental fatigue damage to ensure safe operation of nuclear power plants. Within INCEFA-PLUS, the effects of mean strain and stress, hold time, strain amplitude and surface finish on fatigue endurance of austenitic stainless steels in light water reactor environments have been studied experimentally, these being issues of common interest to all participants. The data obtained has been collected and standardised in an online environmental fatigue database, implemented with the assistance of an INCEFA-PLUS led CEN workshop on this aspect. As the end of the project approaches, INCEFA-PLUS is developing and disseminating methods for including the new data into assessment approaches for environmental fatigue degradation. This paper provides an overall update to project developments since it was last presented at PVP2019 (PVP2019-93276), and provides provisional project conclusions (which will be finalised for presentation at the conference). As well as being a standalone paper, the paper will also serve as an introduction to other papers being submitted covering specific aspects of the project. In particular this paper summarises: • The results of 3 years of testing (nearly concluded at the time of paper submission) • A summary of revealed sensitivities to, and inter-dependencies between: ○ Mean strain and stress, surface finish, strain amplitude and hold time. ○ Environment ○ Material ○ Laboratory (including specimen size and form) • The latest thoughts on how the project results will be used to advance development of improved assessment guidelines. • Progress developing an International EAF database. • A summary of dissemination achieved and planned. • The status of INCEFA-SCALE plans for work after the end of INCEFA-PLUS.

scholarly journals Isothermal Fatigue Behavior of Sn-Pb Solder Joints

1990 ◽  
Vol 112 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. E. Summers ◽  
J. W. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Life ◽  
Plastic Strain ◽  
Strain Rate ◽  
Fatigue Behavior ◽  
Strain Range ◽  
Load Drop ◽  
Plastic Strain Range ◽  
Double Shear ◽  
Isothermal Fatigue ◽  
Fatigue Data

Isothermal fatigue data were collected for the compositions 5Sn-95Pb, 20Sn-80Pb, 40Sn-60Pb, 50Sn-50Pb and 63Sn-37Pb within the binary Sn-Pb system. All of these compositions are commercially available and include those most commonly used. Because Sn-rich solders are rarely used, they were not investigated here. The fatigue life was defined by a 30 percent load drop. The solders were tested in a double shear configuration joined to copper at 75° C. The displacement rate chosen was 0.01 mm/min, which corresponds to a strain rate of 1.5 × 10−4s−1 for our specimen configuration, over a 10 percent plastic strain range. Additionally, the microstructural changes during fatigue are presented. The various solder compositions studied exhibit strikingly different as-solidified microstructures. These differences are discussed in terms of their effect on the isothermal joint failure mechanism and joint isothermal fatigue life.

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