Summary of Environmentally Assisted Crack-Growth Studies Performed at Westinghouse Electric Corporation: Under Funding from the Heavy-Section Steel Technology Program

摘要

The report presents a collection of the information developed in the crack-growth studies at Westinghouse Electric Corporation from 1969 to 1986 under a subcontract with the Heavy-Section Steel Technology Program. A large number of tests were performed to characterize the effects of pressurized-water environment on the enchancement of fatigue crack growth. Specimens were taken from plates, forgings, welds and heat-affected zones. The work provided a data base for development of ASME Code reference crack-growth curves, as well as insights into some of the mechanisms of environmental enhancement. Static-load crack-growth-rate tests were also conducted, with some specimens loaded in excess of 11 years. Extensive fractography was performed and the observations were correlated with the microstructure and the level of environmental enhancement. All the data obtained in the program were compared with results obtained at other laboratories.