HIDA databank — its development and future

Abstract

Task 15 of the European Commission supported HIDA Project (BE1702) has involved the preparation of a post-processed databank to contain information on creep and fatigue crack growth characteristics on the materials studied in the project. It also includes information on plant operator experiences relating to component cracking/failure under steady loading and plant cycling conditions. The HIDA Databank is one of the few databanks initiated in this field of activity. The HIDA Databank has been released on CD as two computer files based on Microsoft ® Access 97 software and has a purpose built Graphical User Interface to allow easy addition of data and examination of existing information. The data included in the HIDA Databank are: (1) plant and research experience information collected from HIDA Task 2 (non-HIDA data); (2) HIDA test data generated from laboratory and feature tests; and (3) test specimen characteristics, product or component properties. The HIDA Databank also contains some post process parameters such as lower and upper bound scatter bands (as derived from the test data). The crack growth data stored in the databank has been used to develop the HIDA procedure for defect assessment and has also assisted in refining existing assessment methodologies. The HIDA Databank also acts as a data source for the Knowledge Based System developed in the HIDA project. This paper outlines the main development of the HIDA Databank and briefly considers how it will be used and developed in the future in order to act as an independent source of information on creep and fatigue crack growth, and component behaviour, in high temperature plant.