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Description / Abstract:
INTRODUCTION
The impetus for this activity arises because the new ASME
BPV Code, Section VIII, Division 2 rules permit high strength
materials of the type enumerated to be used to temperatures above
700°F and into their respective creep ranges. A life limiting
failure mode is potentially the phenomenon of "creep-fatigue." We
shall define a "creep-fatigue" failure as one in which life is
shorter than that expected due to either creep or fatigue acting on
a structure independently. This occurs in those regimes of stress,
strain-rate, time and temperature where the damage mechanisms due
to creep and fatigue can be expected to damage the same
microstructure and property characteristics. Creepfatigue is of
concern especially where there may be time-dependent straining and
where varying stresses (loads, including start-up and shut down)
are among the design conditions.
Comprehensive and correct creep-fatigue design rules are needed
now for the aforementioned alloys because, under the new Section
VIII, Division 2 rules, as the respective creep ranges of the
materials are approached, in many cases the allowable stresses are
significantly higher than those for which there is applicable
service experience that would permit exempting design details from
fatigue analysis based on documented "years of relevant
experience." The same must be said for any new alloys and
applications for which there is literally no relevant service
experience.
In summary then, the combination of new materials and
applications for advanced energy systems with higher allowable
stresses and increased design temperatures requires an
understanding of creepfatigue not now available, analytical models
to explain and express damage accumulation and relevant test data
in order that new, justifiable and correct rules may be
developed.