Structural Stability of Sandvik 3R60™ After 240 131 Hours Ageing and Creep Test at 700 °C

Sandvik 3R60™ is an AISI 316/316L type of stainless steel. In this paper, the structural stability of the material under long-term ageing or creep test has been studied. The material had been creep tested with a stress of 45 MPa at 700 °C. The predicted rupture time for the creep specimen was about 100,000 h; however, the specimen broke first after 240,131 h. The oxidation behavior and structural stability in both aged and creep-tested samples were studied using SEM/EDS, EBSD and ECCI techniques. Thin oxide layers near the sample surface are mainly spinel oxides and eskolaite (Cr2O3). Sigma phase, χ-phase, Eta phase, M23C6 and Cr2N have been observed in the matrix of the samples. In the crept sample, the amount of sigma phase has increased, so has Eta phase and χ-phase as well. Thermo-Calc evaluation can reasonably predict precipitation of sigma phase, Eta phase and M23C6, but not χ-phase and Cr2N phases. Creep crack initiation behavior has been studied. It is mainly noticed to start at surface oxide layer or coarse sigma particles at grain boundary or triple point. Additionally, it is also observed that the presence of a thin Cr2O3 layer between the oxide and matrix along with discontinuous sigma phase distribution at grain boundary that will reduce the risk for creep crack initiation. Further, the crack propagation behavior has also been discussed.

A theoretical and computational investigation of mixed mode creep crack growth along an interface

In this paper, we propose a theoretical framework for studying mixed mode (I and II) creep crack growth under steady state creep conditions. In particular, we focus on the problem of creep crack growth along an interface, whose fracture properties are weaker than the bulk material, located either side of the interface. The theoretical framework of creep crack growth under mode I, previously proposed by the authors, is extended. The bulk behaviour is described by power-law creep, and damage zone models that account for mode mixity are proposed to model the fracture process ahead of a crack tip. The damage model is described by a traction-separation rate law that is defined in terms of an effective traction and separation which couple the different fracture modes. Different models are introduced, namely, a simple critical displacement model, empirical Kachanov type damage models and a micromechanical based model. Using the path independence of the C * -integral and dimensional analysis, analytical models are developed for mixed mode steady-state crack growth in a double cantilever beam specimen (DCB) subjected to combined bending moments and tangential forces. A computational framework is then implemented using the Finite Element method. The analytical models are calibrated against detailed Finite Element models and a scaling function (C k ) is determined in terms of a dimensionless quantity Φ 0 (which is the ratio of geometric and material length scales), mode mixity χ and the deformation and damage coupling parameters. We demonstrate that the form of the C k -function does not change with mode mixity; however, its value depends on the mode mixity, the deformation and damage coupling parameters and the detailed form of the damage zone. Finally, we demonstrate how parameters within the models can be obtained from creep deformation, creep rupture and crack growth experiments for mode I and II loading conditions.