Application of impression creep data in life assessment of power plant materials at high temperatures

Abstract

This paper contains a description of some recent progress on impression creep testing and its applications. Several fundamental aspects, involving the conversion relationships, typical test types, and validity of the test technique, are briefly described. Applications of the test data to assist with the life assessment of components, particularly those with service-exposed materials, using data obtained from scoop samples, are outlined. Correlations of impression data with the corresponding uniaxial data, where available, and with corresponding hardness results, are presented. These results indicate that the impression creep test method is a potential, simple, and economic life assessment technique for power plant life assessment applications. Proposals for future exploitation and for improvement of the technique are addressed.