Mathematical Modeling of the Process of Reduction of the Material Consumption of Gas Transmission System Elements

The new method for a comprehensive assessment of the strength, durability and material capacity of the critical elements of the main gas pipelines, taking into account the combined impact of factors causing damage (environment, corrosion, random loading, geometry variation, material defects, etc.), which are changing the bearing capacity and material capacity of these structures, is proposed. As the main damaging factor, the process of corrosion fatigue is accepted, the qualitative and quantitative assessment of which are realized by applying a set of equations of comparable fatigue lines obtained by fatigue tests carried out in air and in corrosive environment. By the joint solution of these equations, the functions of the corrosion action coefficients are obtained in a wide range of cyclic strength and durability, which in standard calculation procedures are performed only for cyclic strength and only at the inflection point of the fatigue lines (NG 5  106 cycles).The issues of reducing the material consumption and ensuring the cost-effectiveness of structures, by using relatively cheap materials for pipelines - low-carbon and low-alloy structural steels subjected to surface hardening in stressed sections of pipes (edge welds) in order to significantly increase the physical and mechanical characteristics of the used steel grades are considered. In order to increase the corrosion resistance of these sections, contemporary polymer anticorrosive coatings are used.

Dilatometry of Steel for the Production of 5.56 mm Calibre Rifle Barrels

During high rates of fire, the bore of the firearm barrel is exposed to high temperatures. This exposure induces structural changes in the barrel material, which is especially significant for the substrate of the galvanic chrome plating. The alloy steel grades used currently for firearm barrels, when exposed to heating above the ferrite stability limits, develop a phase transition with a discrete negative change in the material volume, which results in typical crazing in the bore. This effect is destructive to the galvanic chrome plating, leading to a loss of adhesion, which reduces the ballistic performance of the firearm, especially its muzzle velocity. This can be prevented by manufacturing barrels from steels having a limited range of phase transitions. The primary method for determining the presence of distinct volume changes in steel due to phase transition is dilatometry over a wide temperature range, which includes the interval within which the barrel bore is heated. This paper presents the dilatometry results for four steel grades, which included a steel grade currently used for firearm barrels, and an analysis of the effects of phase transition on the degradation of the barrel bore.

Prediction of the Shear Tension Strength of Resistance Spot Welded Thin Steel Sheets from High- to Ultrahigh Strength Range

The tensile strength of newly developed ultra-high strength steel grades is now above 1800 MPa, and even new steel grades are currently in development. One typical welding process to join thin steels sheets is resistance spot welding (RSW). Some standardized and not standardized formulas predict the minimal shear tension strength (STS) of RSWed joints, but those formulas are less and less accurate with the higher base materials strength. Therefore, in our current research, we investigated a significant amount of STS data of the professional literature and our own experiments and recommended a new formula to predict the STS of RSWed high strength steel joints. The proposed correlation gives a better prediction than the other formulas, not only in the ultra-high strength steel range but also in the lower steel strength domain.

A review of fatigue test data on weld toe grinding and weld profiling

The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of weld toe grinding and weld profiling on the fatigue strength of welded joints and the main influencing factors. Thus, experimental test results of welds improved by different grinding techniques are reviewed. In total, 445 small- and full-scale fatigue test results of various weld types and steel grades with yield strengths up to 1100 MPa are analysed. The obtained improvements of two FAT classes correspond well with current guidelines; however, a new S–N curve slope of m = 4 is recommended—in line with proposals for other weld geometry improvement techniques.

Investigation of consequences of violation of technology of manufacture of individ-ual elements of BMP-2 track tape

The operation of the BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle was accompanied by periodic failures of the tracked belts. This is due to the breakage of the fixing bolts of the track pins fastening bracket, and thus the military equipment became stationary. Establishing the causes of the destruction of the bolt fixing the staple of the track fingers of the tracked belt of military equipment was carried out using a complex of instrumental materials science research. In particular, the chemical composition of the material from which the bolts and staples were made was determined by the spectral analysis; the fracture surface of the fixing bolt was investigated by the macroanalysis; the microstructure of the bolts was examined using optical microscopy; the microhardness and density of the bolt material was measured. The bolts were made from steel grades 30XM and 33XC, and not from the recommended steel grade 38XC. The macrostructure of the broken bolt corresponds to the shearing structure. The microstructure showed rolling and heat treatment defects. Density measurement confirmed the presence of heat treatment defects. The imperfection of the applied heat treatment was confirmed by measuring the microhardness. A complex of metallurgical research has established the main cause of the destruction of the bolts. It consists in an unsuccessful design of bolts and brackets, an incorrectly selected steel grade with defects in rolling and heat treatment.

Estimation of the domestic materials application possibility in the active part of a high-speed electric generator for micro-GTP

The article discusses the possibility of using domestic materials in a high-speed electric generator. The features of Japanese electrical steel 20NTN1500 and domestic-made electrical steel grades 2420 and 2421 for the stator magnetic circuit are shown. The features of American steel AISI 455 and structural steel grades Steel 40, Steel 40H, Steel 45 are considered in the case of a rotor. A feature of the use of structural steels in the design of the high-speed electric generator rotor for micro-gas turbine plants is the need for precise observance of the rotor heat treatment mode after its manufacture, control of the dimensions and quality of surface treatment.

Artificial Inclusion Environments—Replicating Industry in the Laboratory

The authors present a series of complementary test methods which were developed and used to investigate reactions between high aluminium steel and silica rich inclusions. Non-metallic inclusions (NMIs) cause many defects in the final steel product, therefore the ability to track their size, morphology and composition and correlate this with fundamental reaction kinetics provides important knowledge to support the production of clean quality steel products. Novel steel grades such as TRIP, TWIP and low-density steels have high aluminium contents; aluminium is a readily oxidisable species presenting the potential for instability and excessive reaction with commonly used mould powders that contain silica. A novel combination of techniques including HT-CLSM (High-Temperature Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope), XCT (X-ray computed tomography) and SEM/EDS (scanning electron microscopy/electron dispersive spectroscopy) have been used to study the interaction of entrained mould powder inclusions with steel at high temperatures simulating industrial conditions. This report presents a discussion on the development of techniques and samples to achieve representative and repeatable results that can provide information on the complex chemical and physical interaction phenomena with confidence. Each experimental technique had its own learning points and consequent results. Outcomes presented include possible confirmation of the chemical reaction rate controlling step being aluminium mass transfer; heterogeneous local environmental conditions including fluidity and chemical composition; and occurrence of spontaneous emulsification where the mould powder inclusion breaks apart into a cloud of smaller fragments.

Scaling Behaviour of Si-alloyed Steel Slabs under Reheating Conditions

Reheating of steel slabs for further processing such as hot rolling usually takes place in gas-fired pusher furnaces. Temperatures well above 1000°C, combined with an atmosphere containing H2O, CO2, and O2, lead to substantial oxidation of most steel grades. Newly developed advanced steels often contain significant amounts of Si. This element plays a dominant role in the scaling behaviour near the steel-scale-interface, since fayalite (Fe2SiO4) forms a eutectic with wuestite (Fe1–xO) that melts as low as 1177°C.To better understand the high temperature oxidation behaviour, lab-scale trials were performed with different steel grades containing up to 3 wt.% Si. Possible interactions of Si with other alloying elements present in the samples such as Cr, Mn and Al were also of interest. The atmosphere contained 20% H2O, 7% CO2, and 3% O2, resembling reheating conditions in pusher furnaces, and temperatures ranged from 1100 to 1240°C. For metallographic investigation, the oxidised samples were cold mounted under vacuum using taper section angles. After preparation, the sections were examined through light microscopy, SEM/EDS, XRD, and TEM. The local distribution of the alloying elements could be mapped efficiently, and phase identification was successful in most parts. Under the applied experimental conditions, the elements of interest were present in their oxidic form either as pure or as mixed oxides. Higher Si-contents led to an increased build-up of eutectic melting phase at the steel-scale-interface at temperatures above 1177°C, which in turn further accelerated the oxidation.