Evaluation of Extrapolation for Creep-Fatigue Life by Hysteresis Energy
Yuji NAGAE and Shigeru TAKAYA
Abstract:The creep-fatigue life has been evaluated by the hysteresis energy in 316FR stainless steel with low carbon and medium nitrogen, which is a candidate for structural material in Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) plant with the design life of 60 years. The creep-fatigue is a main damage mode to prevent. The hysteresis energy rate is considered as the parameter to predict the life time. It is clear that the relationship between this parameter and the time to failure can be approximately expressed by the power-law function. The function depends on the ratio of plastic strain to total strain. Total fracture energy for creep-fatigue loading intends to be independent of the ratio of plastic strain to total strain in long-term test condition. The value is related to grain boundary strength for creep-fatigue loading because fracture mode in long-term test condition is intergranular fracture. The life could be predicted by the function in the case of no significant change of fracture energy. Coarse precipitation, for example sigma phase, might be considered as a factor to change the fracture energy. It is important to predict the precipitation formation. The result of life prediction by the hysteresis energy rate is compared with that of the time fraction rule based on "Demonstration Reactor Design Standard (Draft)". The predicted lives by both methods for long-term region are comparable and independent of the ratio of plastic strain to total strain. Key Words:Austenitic stainless steel, High temperature, Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR), Long-term design, Fracture mode