Key Engineering Materials Vol. 810

Abstract: This paper presents results of fracture toughness and Charpy impact tests of 4 steels prepared by metal injection moulding (MIM) method: AISI 4140, 4605, 17-4 PH and SS 420W Grade. Charpy impact testing was performed on the series of machined specimens with sub-size cross-section to obtain values of CVN impact energy. Fracture toughness test method according to ASTM E1820 was performed on SENB specimens, fatigue pre-cracked, to obtain values of K_IC. All tests were performed at the room temperature. After the material testing, next step was to evaluate the results and apply known correlation relationships between fracture toughness K_IC and Charpy impact CVN energies. Many empirical relations exist and describe existence of such relationship. Procedure was used to correlate energies of sub-size Charpy specimens to full-size specimens. Several proposed correlation relationships from transition and upper shelf region of transition curve were used, where the best correlation was found to be Robert-Newtons with average deviation of 22% in comparison to tested values.

Abstract: It is shown that it is possible to obtain such material parameters as α and Q, which, when used in the analytical formulae proposed by Hutchinson, Rice and Rosengren and O’Dowd and Shih, can lead to stress distributions similar to those obtained numerically (except for the region at the immediate crack front). The numerical solution obtained after calibration of the stress-strain uniaxial curve and assuming large strains is expected to be close to the “"real” stress distribution. Thus, the analytical solution is also close to the “real” stress distribution. These new values of α and Q can now be used in fracture criteria proposed within the scope of classical nonlinear fracture mechanics.

Abstract: Theoretical basis of the simplified (engineering) version of Local Approach (LA) to fracture is summarized, and the possibility of using this version to predict the lifetime of RPV steels is demonstrated. The concept of “effective” volume, , within which stresses and strains are uniformly distributed, but the magnitude of the probability of cleavage initiation are equal to their real values at given value of , underlies the proposed engineering version of LA. A function was selected to describe the temperature dependence of local cleavage stress, and a calibration procedure was proposed for determining the constants in this dependence from the results of tests of surveillance specimens. For weld metal of WWER-1000 reactors the dependences of brittle strength on fluence were obtained, and the maximum permissible fluence values were determined. It is shown that in addition to the radiation hardening, the radiation-induced reduction in the level of brittle strength, , has a significant effect on the radiation service life of reactor pressure vessel steel.

Abstract: Effects of holding temperature and time at (β+γ) two phase region on the microstructure of fully lamellar Ti-46Al-7Nb-0.7Cr-0.2Ni-0.1Si (mol%) intermetallic compounds are studies. Fully lamellar microstructure is observed after homogenization heat treatment for 3.6 ks at 1643 K (α single phase state). Fine β phased grains precipitate at fully lamellar structure after heat treatment of homogenized material at 1373 K. Holding the homogenized material for 72 ks at 1373 K decompose partially the lamellar structure. Heat treatment of homogenized material at 1273 K also precipitates the fine β phased grains in fully lamellar structure. In this temperature range, decomposition of lamellar structure is not observed up to 72 ks heat treatment. The toughness of homogenized material is ~ 15 MPa√m. Heat treatment of homogenized material at 1373 K and 1273 K for 3.6 ks indicates maximum fracture toughness in each temperature range. This may due to the precipitation of fine β phased grains. The fracture toughness decreases with the increase in heat treatment time up to 18 ks and/or 36 ks. Then, the value of fracture toughness became constant. Specimens heat treated at 1373 K for 36 ks and 72 ks indicate lower toughness than homogenized material. However, when the specimens are heat treated at 1273 K for 36 ks and 72 ks, the toughness is higher than that of homogenized material. This change is due to the decomposition of the lamellar structure.

Abstract: Air plasma sprayed thermal barrier coatings (APS-TBCs) deposited on the TiAl intermetallic compounds was heat exposed in air at different temperatures and times to evaluate the microstructural change and delamination behavior. The thermal barrier coating (TBC) layer, bond coat (BC) layer and substrate were composed of 4 mol% Y₂O₃ stabilized ZrO₂, CoNiCrAlY alloy (Co-32Ni-21Cr-8Al-0.5Y (mol%)) and TiAl intermetallic compound (Ti-46Al-7Nb-0.7Cr-0.2Ni-0.1 Si (mol%)), respectively. Due to the heat exposure, diffusion of the elements occurred between the BC layer and the substrate, and diffusion layers were formed on both the BC layer and the substrate. A thermally grown oxide (TGO) layer was formed between the TBC layer and the BC layer. The thickness of the TGO layer and the diffusion layer increased with increasing exposure temperature and time. In the TBCs heat exposed at 1273 K for 200 h, a composite oxide of Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ was formed in the BC layer. Regarding the TBCs which were as-deposited and heat exposed at 1073, 1173 K up to 200 h and at 1273 K for 10 h, delamination occurred in the TBC layer near the BC layer. In the TBCs exposed at 1273 K for 50 h or more, delamination occurred at the vicinity of the interface between diffusion layer on the substrate side and the unreacted side of the substrate too. In case that the TBCs were heat exposed at 1073 and 1173 K, the shear strength decreases after reaching the maximum value of the shear strength at 10 h heat exposure. When the TBCs were exposed to heat at 1273 K, the shear strength indicated a constant value after the shear strength increased up to 50 h. This change may be due to the change in crack path after exposure for 50 h at 1273 K.

Abstract: When fatigue crack growth rate da/dN = 0, the stress intensity factor range ΔK_I is a threshold and it is expressed by ΔK_I = ΔK_th. The threshold ΔK_th is important for design, repair/replacement, particularly, trouble shooting for cracked components. However, the thresholds were not well codified. Authorized and consensus ΔK_th are required. This paper introduces the current thresholds provided by fitness-for-service codes and the definition of ΔK_th under negative stress ratio R is discussed. Finally, the threshold ΔK_th for aluminum alloys in air environment is proposed for fitness-for-service codes.

Abstract: In the present paper, two novel methods for determining the fatigue limit are presented. Despite the fact that these methods are different in principle, both represent a new approach to testing where the main benefit is reduced consumption of material. The first method is based on small round specimens and can be considered as one of semi-destructive testing methods. The second method is based on infrared thermographic analysis and requires only one specimen. Results obtained with these techniques were compared with those obtained from standard high-cycle force-controlled fatigue tests under constant loading until failure.

Abstract: This paper shows some cyclic plastic properties of the lead free solder alloy Sn-3.5Ag-0.75 under fully reversed cyclic torsional loading. The low-cycle fatigue behavior of the material was evaluated too. The lead free solder material reveals a strong strain rate effect. A viscoplastic model was implemented into a commercial finite element program and calibrated using data from literature to can be used for simulations of all performed tests in a future work.

Abstract: This paper aims to comparison of corrosion properties of two titanium alloys with different grain size. These alloys are commonly used in implantology for manufacturing long term body hard tissues replacements. Surfaces of tested samples were also electrochemically anodized using fluorine ions rich environment: the main reason for anodization was to create surfaces with highly bioactive properties which can intensify healing process and result into better bonding between body tissues when they are used in implantology. It was found by direct electrochemical methods that difference of corrosion rate between anodized and non-anodized samples was not significant. Anodization results positively influenced decreasing of corrosion rate when samples were tested in aerated physiological solution (0,9 wt. % NaCl/water). Type of bonding between implant and surrounding tissue may be also predetermined by value of contact angle of tested sample and water droplet on its surface. This paper confirmed that anodization increases wettability of tested samples and lower the contact angle to ~60°. According to these results anodization process may be recommended as a profitable treatment for surfaces of tissue replacements made from titanium.