Proposal for the Implementation of Elevated Temperature Design Fatigue Curve for 2-1/4Cr-1Mo-V and 3Cr-1Mo-V Steels

Abstract

2-1/4Cr-1Mo-V and 3Cr-1Mo-V steels have been used extensively as materials for elevated temperature and high-pressure hydro-processing reactors. These steels have both of high strength at elevated temperature and high resistance against elevated temperature hydrogen attack due to the addition of vanadium. The operating temperature of these reactors is between 800 and 900deg.F. The fatigue evaluations of these reactors per ASME Sec. VIII Div.2 and Div.3 can’t be performed in spite of demand for fatigue analysis because the temperature limit of design fatigue curve in ASME Sec. VIII Div.2 and Div.3 for carbon and low alloy steels is 700deg.F. Results of load and strain controlled fatigue tests conducted over the temperature range from room temperature to 932deg.F (500deg.C) are reported for 2-1/4Cr-1Mo-V and 3Cr-1Mo-V steels. These data were compared with data for 2-1/4Cr-1Mo steels available from the literatures. The fatigue strength for a 2-1/4Cr-1Mo-V steel in high cycle region is higher than that for 2-1/4Cr-1Mo steels and in low cycle region is lower. The fatigue strength for a 3Cr-1Mo-V steel is almost same as that for 2-1/4Cr-1Mo-V steels. Therefore an elevated temperature design fatigue curve for 2-1/4Cr-1Mo-V and 3Cr-1Mo-V steels is newly proposed. It is found from the case study that the different fatigue life can be predicted by using different mean stress correction procedure.