The effect of cobalt aluminate inoculant addition and melt-pouring temperature on the structure and mechanical properties of Ni-based superalloy was studied. The first major move to control the quality of investment cast blades and vanes was the control of grain size. Cobalt aluminate (CoAl2O4) is the most frequently utilized inoculant in the lost-wax casting process of Ni-based superalloys. The inoculant in the prime coat of moulds and pouring temperature play a significant role in grain size control. The finest surface grains were obtained when the internal surface of shell mould was coated with cobalt aluminate and subsequently pouring was at 1480°C. The influence of selected casting parameters and inoculant addition on mechanical properties was investigated on the basis of tensile, creep and hardness testing. The effect of grain refinement on mechanical properties were consistent with established theories. Tests conducted at ambient temperature indicated a beneficial effect of grain refinement both on tensile strength and hardness. In contrast at elevated temperature during creep, the reverse trend was observed.

The paper presents experimental results of creep and low cycle fatigue (LCF) tests carried out on the as-received cast aluminium alloys with different chemical composition and porosity. The test programmes contain creep investigations under step-increased stresses at different temperatures, and cyclic plasticity under different strain amplitudes and temperatures.

The paper presents a new method of lifetime calculations of steam turbine components operating at high temperatures. Component life is assessed on the basis of creep-fatigue damage calculated using long-term operating data covering the whole operating period instead of representative events only. The data are analysed automatically by a dedicated computer program developed to handle big amount of process data. Lifetime calculations are based on temperature and stress analyses performed by means of finite element method and using automatically generated input files with thermal and mechanical boundary conditions. The advanced lifetime assessment method is illustrated by an example of lifetime calculations of a steam turbine rotor.

The paper presents the results of studies to determine the effect of complex surface and bulk modification and double filtration during mould pouring on the stereological parameters of macrostructure and mechanical properties of castings made from the post-production waste IN-713C and the MAR-247 nickel alloys. The evaluation covered the number of grains per 1mm2 of the sample surface area, the average area of grains and the shape index, hardness HB, tensile strength and resistance to high temperature creep. The results indicate the possibility of controlling the stereological parameters of macrostructure through application of several variants of the modification, controlling in this way also different low- and high-temperature properties. The positive effect of double filtration of the alloy during mould pouring on the metallurgical quality and mechanical properties of castings has also been emphasized.

Recently, attempts have been made to use porous metal as catalysts in a reactor for the hydrogen manufacturing process using steam methane reforming (SMR). This study manufactured Ni-Cr-Al based powder porous metal, stacked cubic form porous blocks, and investigated high temperature random stack creep property. To establish an environment similar to the actual situation, a random stack jig with a 1-inch diameter and height of 75 mm was used. The porous metal used for this study had an average pore size of ~1161 μm by rolling direction. The relative density of the powder porous metal was measured as 6.72%. A compression test performed at 1073K identified that the powder porous metal had high temperature (800°C) compressive strength of 0.76 MPa. A 800°C random stack creep test at 0.38 MPa measured a steady-state creep rate of 8.58×10–10 s–1, confirming outstanding high temperature creep properties. Compared to a single cubic powder porous metal with an identical stress ratio, this is a 1,000-times lower (better) steady-state creep rate. Based on the findings above, the reason of difference in creep properties between a single creep test and random stack creep test was discussed.

The sodium expansion and creep strain of semi-graphitic cathodes are investigated using a modified Rapoport apparatus. To further understanding of the sodium and bath penetration damage processes, the impact of external stress fluence on the carbon cathode microstructure has been defined with XRD analysis, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Graphite atoms fracture into smaller fragments that are less directional than the pristine platelets, which allows for a possible filling of the cracks that thus develop by the sodium and bath during aluminum electrolysis. The average microcrystalline size (calculated by Raman spectroscopy) is reduced by the deformation. The decreased intensity and widened ‘G’ and ‘D’ peaks in the analysis indicate the poor order of the sheets along the stacking direction while the consistent layered graphite structure is sustained.

The study consisted in assessing the influence of surface and volume modification on the characteristics of high-temperature creep of

castings made of waste products of nickel-based superalloys IN 713C and the MAR-247. The results of high-temperature creep tests

performed under conditions of two variants of research were analysed. The characteristics of creep according to variant I were obtained on

the basis of earlier studies of these alloys with the parameters T=982o

C, σ=150MPa [1]. Variant II included carrying out creep tests of

alloy IN713C with the parameters T=760o

C, σ =400MPa and alloy MAR247 with the parameters: T=982o

C, σ=200MPa.Developed creep

characteristics were compared with the results of these alloys with the parameters according to variant I of the study. It was observed that

the conditions of experiments carried out depending upon the value of the creep test temperature and stress with the creep stability depends

on the size of the macrograin (I variant of the studies) or such influence was not observed (II variant of the studies). Stability of samples

with coarse structure in variant I of creep tests was significantly higher than the samples with fragmented grain. It was found that the

observed stability conditions are dependent on the dominant deformation mechanisms under creep tests carried out - diffusion mechanism

in variant I and a dislocation mechanism in variant II of the study. The conditions for the formation and growth of the cracks in the tested

materials, including the morphological characteristics of their macro-and microstructure were tested.

Paper presents the assessment of impact of heat treatment on durability in low-cycle fatigue conditions (under constant load) in castings

made using post-production scrap of MAR-247 and IN-713C superalloys. Castings were obtained using modification and filtration

methods. Additionally, casting made of MAR-247 were subjected to heat treatment consisting of solution treatment and subsequent aging.

During low-cycle fatigue test the cyclic creep process were observed. It was demonstrated that the fine-grained samples have significantly

higher durability in test conditions and , at the same time, lower values of plastic deformation to rupture Δϵpl. It has been also proven that

durability of fine-grained MAR-247 samples can be further raised by about 60% using aforementioned heat treatment.

The paper presents a model for dynamic analysis of belt transmission. A two dimensional discrete model was assumed of a belt consisting of rigid bodies joined by translational and torsion spring-damping elements. In the model, both a contact model and a dry friction model including creep were taken into consideration for belt-pulley interaction. A model with stiffness and damping between the contacting surfaces was used to describe the contact phenomenon, whereas a simplified model of friction was assumed. Motion of the transmission is triggered under the influence of torque loads applied on the pulleys. Equations of motion of separate elements of the belt and pulleys were solved numerically by using adaptive stepsize integration methods. Calculation results are presented of the reaction forces acting on the belt as well as contact and friction forces between the belt body and pulley in the sample of the belt transmission. These were obtained under the influence of the assumed drive and resistance torques.

Time-dependent behavior of rock mass is important for long-term stability analysis in rock engineering. Extensive studies have been carried out on the creep properties and rheological models for variable kinds of rocks, however, the effects of initial damage state on the time-dependent behavior of rock has not yet been taken into consideration. In the present study, the authors proposed a creep test scheme with controlled initial damage to investigate the influence of initial damage on the time-dependent behavior of sandstone. In the test scheme, the initial states of damage were first determined via unloading the specimen from various stresses. Then, the creep test was conducted under different stress levels with specific initial damage. The experimental results show that there is a stress threshold for the initial damage to influence the behavior of the rock in the uniaxial compressive creep tests, which is the stress threshold of dilatancy of rock. When the creep stress is less than the stress threshold, the effect of the initial damage seems to be insignificant. However, if the creep stress is higher than the stress threshold, the initial damage has an important influence on the time-dependent deformation, especially the lateral and volumetric deformation. Moreover, the initial damage also has great influence on the creep failure stress and long-term strength, i.e., higher initial damage leading to lower creep failure stress and long-term strength. The experimental results can provide valuable data for the construction of a creep damage model and long-term stability analysis for rock engineering.

The subject matter of the research pertains to the improvement of rheological properties of petroleum bitumens by their modification with SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) copolymer. The authors have determined selected rheological properties characterising the durability of modified bitumens used in road pavements. The bitumens were modified in laboratory conditions with modified bitumen concentrate of a known SBS copolymer content of 9%. The result was a binder containing the known percentage of the SBS copolymer of 3%, 4.5% and 6%. Rheological properties of the tested bitumens were determined by the use of a DSR dynamic shear rheometer (in a wide temperature range from 40°C to 100°C) and a ductilometer at 5°C. DSR was used for performing MSCR test to determine the resistance of the asphalt mixture with the SBS-modified binder to permanent deformations in the high temperature range (from 40°C to 82°C). The comparison of the values of the dynamic shear modulus |G*| of all the bitumens tested shows that with a growing content of the SBS copolymer in the tested binder the value of |G*| increases, which may indicate greater resistance to permanent deformation of the asphalt pavement. The MSCR test has shown that the increased use of the SBS copolymer addition in the bitumen translates to decreasing values of the non-recoverable creep compliance J_nr. The SBS copolymer accelerates stress relaxation in the bitumen sample, thus increasing pavement resistance to low-temperature cracks. Furthermore, modification reduces the negative impact of ageing on the properties of the binder, manifested by its stiffening and slowdown of relaxation.

Admixtures are commonly used nowadays in the mix composition of concrete. These additions affect concrete properties and performance especially creep deformations. This paper shows the effect of admixtures on creep of concrete. In fact, creep deformations have prejudicial consequences on concrete behaviour; an incorrect or inaccurate prediction leads to undesirable consequences in structures. Therefore, an accurate estimation of these deformations is mandatory. Moreover, design codes do not consider admixtures’ effect while predicting creep deformations, thus it is necessary to develop models that predict accurately creep deformations and consider the effect of admixtures. Using a large experimental database coming from international laboratories and research centres, this study aims to update the Eurocode 2 creep model by considering the type and percentage of admixtures using Bayesian Linear Regression method. The effect of two types of admixtures is presented in this paper; the water reducer and silica fume.

Ferrtic/martensitic and ODS steels were fabricated by the mechanical alloying process, and their microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated. The 9Cr-1W and 9Cr-1W-0.3Ti-0.35Y2O3 (in wt.%) steels were prepared by the same fabrication process such as mechanical alloying, hot isostatic pressing, and hot rolling processes. A microstructural observation of these steels indicated that the Ti and Y2O3 additions to 9Cr-1W steel were significantly effective to refine the grain size and form nano-sized Y-Ti-O oxide particles. As a result, the tensile strengths at room and elevated temperatures were considerably enhanced. Considerable improvement of the creep resistances at 700°C was also evaluated. It is thus concluded that 9Cr-1W ODS steel with Ti and Y2O3 additions would be very effective in improving the mechanical properties especially at elevated temperatures.