The present paper summarizes the procedures described in CWA 15627 [CEN Workshop Agreement, “Small Punch Test Method for Metallic Materials,” CWA 15627:2007 D/E/F, European Committee for Standardization, Brussels, Belgium, 2007] for determination of tensile and fracture characteristics of metallic materials from the results of small-punch tests together with the corrections of this document proposed in the frame of its prospective conversion into a European standard. The corrections were proposed on the basis of the experiences obtained in the period 2007–2012 at Material and Metallurgical Research, Ltd. (Ostrava, Czech Republic).
The underlying purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether the CEN CWA 15627 “Small Punch Test Method for Metallic Materials” first published in 2006 has indeed succeeded in providing a stimulus for a wider implementation of the small punch test technique in industrial applications throughout Europe and indeed worldwide. A wealth of research progress has been apparent, as strongly evidenced in three dedicated SSTT (Small Specimen Testing Techniques) conferences held in Europe over the last five years, but also in the wider literature. In particular it is important to mention the recent publication of a Japanese standard and the announcement of parallel progress in China. The present paper concentrates on progress within Europe from the launch of the Code to the present day. In particular attention is focused on the need for industrial acceptance of the test methodology and methods for evaluating the results. Some scepticism still seems to prevail within sectors of the conventional power generation industry, an industry which can potentially benefit most from successful remanent lifetime extension tools of which small punch testing can be considered as a prime candidate. In spite of this, it is demonstrated that a major proportion of the Small Punch testing research of the last decade has been carried out on power plant steels. Meanwhile it is shown that there is evidence that the original remit of the methodology in assessing the integrity of irradiated nuclear plant remains active, new interest is developing for aerospace and next generation nuclear applications enhancing further the credibility of the Code.
The assessment of the residual lifetime of critical components of industrial plants requires the knowledge of mechanical properties prior to operation, respecting all technological operations realized throughout the manufacture of the component, and the knowledge of mechanical properties after actual time of operation (actual mechanical properties). Small Punch (SP) test technique enables measurement of the realistic material properties at the critical locations in the component both prior and after long-term operation. The paper shows the examples of the sampling of testing material from the critical components of the industrial plants and the procedures for determination of tensile and fracture characteristics by SP tests at ambient and low temperatures. The special attention is devoted to the test specimen orientation for determination of SP fracture energy ESP.
The principal difference between the small punch (SP) testing technique and standardized impact testing lies in the fact that the SP tests carried out in accordance with CWA 15627 Small Punch Test Method for Metallic Materials use disc-shaped test specimens without a notch. Especially in tough materials, the temperature dependence of SP fracture energy ESP in the transition area is very steep and lies close to the temperature of liquid nitrogen. In this case, the determination of SP transition temperature TSP can lead to significant errors in its determination. Efforts to move the transition area of penetration testing closer to the transition area of standardized impact tests led to the proposal of the notched disc specimen 8 mm in diameter and 0.5 mm in thickness with a “U” shaped notch 0.2 mm deep in the axis plane of the disc. The paper summarizes the results obtained to date when determining the transition temperature of SP tests TSP, determined according to CWA 15627 for material of pipes made of P92, P22, and a heat treated 14MoV6-3 steel in the as delivered state. Although the results obtained confirmed the results of other works in that the presence of a notch in a SP disc is insufficient to increase the transition temperature significantly and certainly not to the values obtained by Charpy testing, comparison of the different behaviors of the alloys tested reveals some evidence that the notch reduces the energy for initiation. This implies that the test on a notched disc is more a test of crack growth and would be a useful instrument if included in the forthcoming EU standard for SP testing.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.