Fatigue Strength Improvement of Pressure Vessel Steel by Lasler Beam Radiation

레이저빔 조사에 의한 압력용기용 강의 피로강도 향상방법 개발

Degradation problem due to long term service in machine or structure is now one of important problems in whole industrial field. In this study, pressure vessel steel, Cr-Mo steel, which was used more than 60,000 hours, was surface-modified by laser beam radiation for the improvement of fatigue strength. To find out optimum radiation condition, hardness, residual stress measurement and fatigue tests were carried out with the specimen of different radiation conditions. Experimental results show that micro-hardness values on the surface of the radiated specimens were approximately 2.2 times higher than those of un-radiated ones. In the depth direction of the specimen, hardness on the surface showed maximum value and was decreased at the inside the specimen. Different hardness values are due to the energy density Q which was absorbed by the specimen. Fatigue tests show that fatigue life was improved by the compressive residual stress after laser beam radiation. However, some specimens with differednt conditions show the shorter fatigue life. It means that laser beam radiation with optimum parameter can improve thae fatigue strength.