Creep behaviour of a high chromium martensitic steel under stress varying creep loading conditions: Primary creep regeneration (PCR)

Abstract

Primary creep regeneration (PCR) is an important phenomenon observed for some alloys loaded at high-temperature and under stress varying loading conditions. For example, for a specimen deforming in the secondary creep regime, a stress reversal might result in an enhanced creep rate upon reloading due to full/partial re-activation of the primary creep stage (i.e. primary creep regeneration). The extent of PCR activation is expected to be dependent on different loading parameters (e.g. magnitude and duration of reverse loading) and the characteristics of the loaded alloy. In this study, a comprehensive testing program was designed and conducted to investigate the PCR behaviour of an advanced 10%Cr martensitic steel at 600 °C. The experimental observations characterized the influence of different loading parameters on the extent of PCR activation. It was found that the inelastic strain accumulation during reverse loading periods is the most important parameter governing the extent of PCR activation after stress transients. Furthermore, the gathered experimental data was analysed to understand the effect of different loading parameters on anelastic recovery behaviour of the steel. It was shown that a larger amount of strain recovers after unloading for tests with higher forward stress magnitudes and/or larger amounts of pre-accumulated inelastic strain.