Creep and creep crack growth behaviors for base, weld, and heat affected zone in a grade 91 weldment

Abstract

This study investigated the creep and creep crack growth (CCG) behavior of the base metal (BM), weld metal (WM), and heat affected zone (HAZ) in a Gr. 91 weldment, which was made by a shield metal arc weld process. A series of tensile, creep, and CCG tests were performed for the BM, WM, and HAZ at 550 °C. Creep behavior of the BM, WM, and HAZ was analyzed in terms of various creep laws; Norton’s power-law, Monkman-Grant relation and damage tolerance factor (λ), and their constants were determined. In addition, each CCGR law for the BM, WM, and HAZ was proposed and compared in terms of a C∗-fracture parameter. The WM and HAZ revealed faster creep rate, lower rupture ductility, and faster CCGRs than the BM, but they showed a similar behavior in the creep and CCG. The CCGRs obtained in the present study exhibited a marginal difference when compared with those of RCC-MRx of currently elevated design code in France. A creep crack path in the HAZ plane progressed towards a weak fine-grained HAZ adjacent to the BM.

Keywords

• Creep
• Creep crack growth
• Grade 91 steel
• Weld metal
• Heat affected zone