J. Ganesh Kumar

Evaluation of variation of tensile strength across 316LN stainless steel weld joint using automated ball indentation technique

Tensile strength variation across 316LN stainless steel fusion welded joint comprising of base metal, deposited weld metal and heat affected zone (HAZ) has been evaluated by Automated Ball Indentation (ABI) technique. Automated Ball Indentation tests were conducted on the various zones of the steel weld joint at 300, 523 and 923 K. The flow curves obtained from ABI results were consistent with corresponding conventional uniaxial tensile test results. The HAZ exhibited higher tensile strength than the other regions of the steel weld joint at all investigated temperatures. The ratio of ultimate tensile strength to yield stress (YS), which represents the work hardening behaviour, increased with an increase in temperature for the base metal and HAZ; whereas it remained nearly the same for the weld metal.

Characterisation of Mechanical Properties of Materials Using Innovative Small Specimen Testing Methods

Abstract Mechanical properties of materials such as tensile, impact and creep properties, are characterised using standard test methods. These methods are generally material intensive. Impression creep (IC), small punch creep (SPC) and ball indentation (BI) are three innovative small specimen testing methods which can be used to determine the mechanical properties of materials. IC test is used to determine the creep deformation behavior of materials. SPC test is used to evaluate creep deformation and fracture properties of materials. Tensile, hardness, and fracture toughness can be evaluated using BI test method. Being material non-intensive, these testing methods have applications including materials development, structural integrity assessment for life extension of components, and characterization of mechanical properties of different microstructural zones in weld joints. This paper presents the results of detailed studies carried out using IC, SPC and BI testing techniques and discusses their relative advantages and limitations.

Effect of notch root radius on tensile behaviour of 316L(N) stainless steel

Abstract Type 316L(N) stainless steel (SS) is used as the major structural material for high temperature components of sodium cooled fast reactors. The influence of notch root radius on the tensile behaviour of 316L(N) SS under multi-axial stress state was investigated. Double U-notches with five different kinds of notch geometry were incorporated symmetrically into the tensile testing specimens by changing the notch root radius while keeping the gross diameter, net diameter and notch depth as the same for all the notches. The notch root radius was varied as 0·25, 0·5, 1·25, 2·5 and 5 mm. Tensile tests were carried out on the notched specimens at room temperature (298 K) and at 923 K at a constant strain rate of 3×10−3 s−1. The tensile strength and yield strength of notched specimen of 316L(N) SS increased with decrease in notch radius at both the temperatures and the notch severity was less pronounced at high temperature. The fractured notch surface was analysed using scanning electron microscope and unfractured notch was sliced along the axis and observed under optical microscope. Finite element analysis was performed on the models of notched specimens with various notch root radii. These results showed that Von Mises equivalent stress which was derived from triaxial stresses decreased with decrease in notch radius. The shift of location of peak values of maximum principal stress and hydrostatic stress towards the axis of the specimen, leading to formation of cracks, occurred at a lower nominal stress when the notch radius was increased.

Small Punch Creep Testing Technique for Remnant Life Assessment

Small punch creep (SPC) testing technique is a material non-intensive testing technique for evaluating creep behavior of materials using miniature specimens. It can be used for remnant life assessment (RLA) studies on components in service, by scooping out limited material for testing without impairing the strength of component. In order to ensure the reliability of use of SPC technique for RLA, it is necessary to establish sound database on SPC properties of the material before putting into service. In this investigation, SPC technique was used to evaluate creep properties of 316LN stainless steel using specimens of size 10 x 10 x 0.5 mm. SPC tests were conducted in load controlled mode at 923 K and at various loads. SPC curves clearly exhibited primary, secondary and tertiary creep stages. The minimum deflection rate increased and rupture life decreased with an increase in applied load. Like in conventional creep test results, the minimum deflection rate obeyed Norton’s power law and Monkman-Grant relationship. SPC test was correlated with corresponding conventional creep test. Good correlation was established between creep rupture life values evaluated from SPC tests and conventional creep tests.

High temperature tensile properties of 316LN stainless steel investigated using automated ball indentation technique

Abstract Type 316LN stainless steel (SS) is the principal structural material for the components of sodium cooled fast reactors operating under elevated temperature conditions. In order to assess the degradation in strength of service exposed components using a small specimen testing technique such as automated ball indentation (ABI), it is necessary to carry out prior detailed ABI studies on the virgin material. In this investigation, the tensile behaviour of as-received 316LN SS were investigated at several temperatures in the range 298–973 K using ABI technique. The load-depth of indentation data measured from ABI tests was analyzed using semi-empirical relationships to obtain the tensile properties. The yield stress and the flow curves were determined by correlating ABI results with corresponding uniaxial tensile test results. Trend curve for tensile strength with temperature, as estimated from ABI tests, exhibited a plateau region in the temperature around 823 K, similar to uniaxial tensile tests. The variations of strength coefficient, strain hardening exponent, yield ratio, hardness and uniform ductility with temperature were evaluated from ABI tests. The ABI technique was found to estimate the influence of temperature on tensile properties sensitively.

Creep properties and design curves for nitrogen enhanced grade of 316LN stainless steel

Abstract 316L(N) stainless steel (SS) containing 0·02–0·03 wt-% carbon and 0·06–0·08 wt-% nitrogen is the principal material for the high temperature structural components of the prototype fast breeder reactor in India. In order to increase the economic competitiveness of sodium cooled fast reactors (SFRs), there is a strong desire to increase the design life from the current level of 40 years to at least 60 years for the future reactors. As a part of the efforts to develop materials with superior mechanical properties suitable for longer design life, the influence of nitrogen at concentrations higher than 0·07 wt-%, on the high temperature mechanical properties of type 316L(N) SS is being studied. Four heats of 316L(N) SS, containing 0·07, 0·11, 0·14 and 0·22 wt-% nitrogen have been evaluated extensively in terms of their tensile, creep, low cycle fatigue and creep fatigue interaction properties. Based on these studies, the nitrogen content has been optimised at 0·14 wt-%. This nitrogen enhanced grade of steel (NE316LN SS) was found to have significantly better tensile, creep, low cycle fatigue and creep-fatigue properties as compared to the PFBR grade of 316L(N) SS. This paper presents the influence of nitrogen on the creep deformation, damage and fracture behaviour of NE316LN SS. Design of high temperature SFR components is made on the basis of RCC-MR design code. The creep properties of NE316LN SS have been analysed in terms of the procedures for generation of the design code. Time–dependent design curves have been generated.