Effect of Ageing on Residual Stresses in Welded Stainless Steel Cylinders

Abstract

Operation of components at high temperature in power stations leads to the relaxation of residual stresses created in welded stainless steel cylinders. In this work a number of Esshete 1250 stainless steel cylinders containing girth welds and repair welds were manufactured. Two cylinders were then put to a furnace for 10,000hrs and 20,000hrs at 650°C. These conditions simulated the effects of aging. The residual stresses in the girth welds and repair welds before and after aging were measured using a number of methods based around the Deep Hole Drilling method. This paper describes the experiments carried out to obtain the through-wall distribution of stresses. It is evident that there was significant relaxation of the residual stresses due to aging. The peak tensile residual stress in girth welds was relaxed from 500MPa to 110MPa and the peak compressive residual stress in girth welds was relaxed from −301MPa to −135MPa after 10,000 hours at 650°C. The repair weld residual stresses were not only relaxed at the peak stresses but relaxed average levels from 220MPa to 140MPa for hoop stresses and from 180MPa to 145MPa for axial stresses. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of future fracture tests.