A Study on the Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior of 9% Ni Steels

9% Ni강의 피로균열진전거동에 관한 연구

This study is to evaluate the fatigue crack growth characteristics for base metals and welded metal of 9% Ni steels. Since this material has very excellent fracture toughness at low temperature, it has been widely used for inner walls of LNG storage tank. These materials to compare fatigue crack growth (FCG) behaviour are treated with heat by the method of quenching and tempering (QT), and quenching, lamellarizing and tempering (QLT). FCG tests using compact temsion (CT) specimen under stress ratio R=0.1, 0.5, and constant load are carried out. K-increasing tests are conducted by the standard test method described in ASTM E 647. To investigate the effect of welded metal on the crack growth rate, the locations of notch tip were chosen at the center of welded metal and heat affected zone (HAZ). Form the results, FCG rate has almost same tendency according to stress ratio, base and welded metal, the locations of welded metal. FCG rate of welded metal is somewhat faster than base metal. Also scanning electron microscope (SEM) is used to observe the striation of the fractured surface after fatigue crack tests.