Evaluation of J$_lc$ and T$_mat$ of aged 1Cr-1Mo-0.25V steel at elevated temperature

시효열화시킨 1Cr-1Mo-0.25V 강의 고온에서의 J$_lc$ 및 T$_mat$ 의 평가

When crack are detected in aged turbine rotors of power plants, information on fracture resistance of the aged material at operating temperature is needed for determination of critical loading condition and residual life of the turbine. In this study, fracture toughness (J$_lc$) and tearing modulus(T$_mat$) of virgin and thermally degraded 1Cr-1Mo-0.25V steel, which is one of the most widely used rotor steels, were measured at 538.deg. C according to ASTM E813 and ASTM E1152, respectively. Five kinds of specimen with different degradation levels were prepared by isothermal aging heat treatment at $630^{\circ}C.$ It was observed that J$_lc$ and T$_mat$ value decreased as the degradation level increased. Analysis of microstructures using a scanning electron microscope showed that the decrement of J$_lc$ is related to segregation of impurities at grain boundaries. It was also verified that the DC electric potential drop method is accurate and reliable for crack length monitoring at elevated temperature.