Analysis of the effects of fabrication flaws on crack initiation and arrest properties of 9% nickel steel used in LNG (liquefied natural gas) storage tanks. Final report, June 1982-March 1986

Technical Report · Fri Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5500931

Ripling, E J; Crosley, P B

The purpose of the project, which was carried out in three phases, was to evaluate the crack resistance of LNG storage tanks. The first phase consisted of characterizing the mechanical behavior of seven different heats of 9% Ni steels using small test specimens. On the basis of these results, three heats having two different toughnesses and two thicknesses were selected for the crack-resistance study. Since weld defects are the most likely crack initiators, CTOD specimens were fabricated with lack-of-fusion (LOF) defects. It was found that the crack-initiation toughness of austenitic welds exceeded that of the base-plate, while the toughness of ferritic welds was about equal to the base plates. Further, fatigue sharpened defects were no more damaging than as-weld defects. The major portion of the project consisted of defining the crack-arrest capability of 9% Ni steel storage tanks. A specimen was developed for measuring full-thickness, non-plane strain crack-arrest toughness.

• Research Organization: Materials Research Lab., Inc., Glenwood, IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5500931
• Report Number(s): PB-86196169/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
035000 -- Natural Gas-- Storage-- (1989-)
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360103* -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
ALLOYS
CRACKS
CRYOGENICS
DEFECTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
LIQUEFIED GASES
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS
NICKEL ALLOYS
NICKEL STEELS
STEELS
STORAGE FACILITIES