Objective 12: Creep, Fatigue, and Corrosion Flashcards
Creep
The tendency of a solid material to deform slowly, but permanently, under the influence of long-term exposure to stress well below its elastic limit
What causes Creep tendency to increase?
Temperature increase
What can ultimately happen to metal experiencing Creep?
The metal can eventually break, or rupture, under pressure, even though the load applied is considerably lower than that required to cause rupture in the short term or in a tensile test
What factors affect Creep?
- Temperature
- Time
- Material properties
- Applied Load
Creep Rupture Test
Test used to determine the rate of deformation and the estimated time until rupture, at a given temperature
What is the procedure for a Creep Rupture Test?
- A test piece, at constant temperature, is subjected to a fixed tensile load
- The deformation of the test sample is measured during the test and the time to rupture is determined
- Several such tests are run under different loads and graphed
What is the duration of Creep Rupture Tests?
Range from 1000 to 10 000+ hours
Describe Test Piece Extension in a Creep Rupture Test during Initial Extension
Deformation caused by initial loading and depends on test conditions, usually increasing with increases in temperature and load
Describe Test Piece Extension in a Creep Rupture Test during Primary Creep
There is a decreasing rate of deformation
Describe Test Piece Extension in a Creep Rupture Test during Secondary Creep
Essentially constant rate of creep
Describe Test Piece Extension in a Creep Rupture Test during Tertiary Creep
Accelerating rate of creep, leading up to fracture
How is the practical application of Creep data simplified?
By establishing under laboratory conditions 2 values of stress (at a specific temperature) that produces 2 corresponding rates of creep: 1% per 10 000 and 100 000 hours respectively
What is indicated by rapid rates of creep elongation?
Transgranular (ductile) fracture
What is indicated by slow rates of creep elongation?
Intergranular (brittle) fracture
What is an indication of Transgranular Fracture?
Presence of surface oxidation
What is an indication of Intergranular Fracture that may or may not be present?
Visible intercrystalline oxides
How is creep rupture determined for materials at time periods longer than they’ve been tested for?
ASME Code provides extrapolation methods which depend on the behaviour of the particular alloy for which the design values are being established and on the extent and quality of the available database.
How is design data for creep usually provided?
As a series of curves for constant creep strain relating stress and time for a given temperature and specifying whether the data represents just secondary stage or also includes primary stage
What a concern vis-a-vis creep for designing plants that work at temperature well above atmospheric temperature?
The designer must consider carefully what possible maximum strains can be allowed and what the final life of the plant will likely be.
Why are Superheater tubes subject to reduced creep life?
- Higher operating temperatures
- Damaging mechanisms, e.g. erosion and corrosion
- Thermal expansion and mechanical loading
How are Superheater Tubes monitored for Creep?
- Visual Inspection
- Ultrasonic Thickness Testing
- Tube Sample Analysis
What factors affect Creep Fatigue in Superheaters and other HT Headers?
- Steam Flow
- Combustion
- Boiler Load
How are there temperature gradients created by Combustion in Superheaters and other HT Headers?
- Firing rate in multi-burners boilers is not uniform, nor is the flow of combustion air and combustion products
- Ash and slag deposits affect heat distribution
How are there temperature gradients created by Steam Flow due to Boiler Load in Superheaters and other HT Headers?
Changes in boiler load cause changes in firing rate and therefore changes in steam flow
Why is a temperature gradient in Superheaters and other HT Headers problematic?
It causes localized stresses in the header, resulting in ligament cracks
How are Superheater Tubes and Header best monitored for defects?
Combinations of NDE techniques targeted at the welds where cracks are most likely to develop (stress risers)
Stress Risers
Flaws that can amplify an applied stress in a particular location
How exactly are Headers monitored for creep?
The header diameter is measured at several locations on the header and the outlet nozzle to look for increases in diameter
What is the most effective test to find Creep Damage in HT Headers?
Metallographic Replication
Metallographic Replication
Study of the grain microstructure of a component, without taking samples from the component, by faithfully reproducing the surface topography of the metal specimen on an acetate tape to be examined under a microscope
When is Metallographic Replication especially useful?
When repeated observations are required
What is the procedure for Metallographic Replication?
- The surface of the specimen is cleaned of oxides to bare metal
- A cellulose acetate film is softened by soaking one side of the film with acetone
- The softened flim is immediately applied to the etched surface and pressed firmly into place
- After 20 minutes, the film hardens
- The film is carefully peeled from the metal for microscopic examination
- The side of the film that was not in contact with the metal is placed against a black surface to improve the contrast