Thermal aging effect on tensile and ratcheting behaviour of nuclear power pipeline steel

Abstract

The uniaxial tensile and the ratcheting-fatigue behaviors of the nuclear power pipeline steel (Z2CND18.12N) were studied with different thermal aging times (from 1hour to 500hours) at two thermal aging temperatures (500°C and 700°C). The aged specimens conducted slight but consistent decrease of yield stress and Young’s modulus than those of the original specimen. The ultimate strength and the elongation were not strongly affected by any thermal aging conditions. The thermal aging process resulted in the apparent changes of the ratcheting behavior and the ratcheting-fatigue life.