Novel induction heating system for service cycle thermo-mechanical fatigue testing

Abstract

The concept of an active/passive coil arrangement has been devised as part of the development of a flexible induction heating system to provide well controlled temperature distributions during complex service cycle thermo-mechanical fatigue tests involving low alloy bainitic and martensitic steels. Introducing a passive coil at the mid-specimen gauge length position is responsible for a significant reduction in axial temperature gradient during thermal transients. The effectiveness of this novel new arrangement is demonstrated and the possibilities for further enhancement are explored.