Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Técnicas de limpeza química ou mecânica são comumente empregadas para evitar a formação de biofilmes e problemas associados com a colonização de superfícies por micro-organismos. Neste trabalho, amostras de aço inox 304L foram submetidas a ensaios acelerados de crescimento de biofilme, o qual foi posteriormente removido por tratamentos de limpeza e desinfecção (choque térmico com água a 70C por 1h, limpeza com ácido fosfórico 20 % v/v por 30min e desinfecção com peróxido de hidrogênio 0,17 % v/v por 1h). Com o objetivo de verificar a influência destes tratamentos na remoção do biofilme, este foi caracterizado (por quantificação microbiana e análises de espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica - EIE), antes e após a aplicação dos tratamentos. Dois casos foram estudados. No primeiro caso, simularam-se condições presentes em tubulações de ambientes hospitalares e sistemas de distribuição de água quente. O micro-organismo utilizado foi a bactéria Serratia marcences. O processo de formação de biofilme e posterior limpeza e desinfecção foi realizado de modo contínuo durante 15 semanas. Os resultados de quantificação microbiana e de EIE mostraram que desde a primeira semana de exposição e ao longo dos ensaios, formou-se um biofilme aderente à superfície do aço e que o emprego dos tratamentos de limpeza e desinfecção não foi eficaz na remoção do biofilme. Em um segundo caso, simularam-se condições presentes em tubulações da indústria de água mineral, empregando-se a bactéria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Neste caso, as técnicas de limpeza e desinfecção foram aplicadas individualmente e em conjunto. A aplicação de choque térmico, assim como da limpeza ácida, sobre um biofilme com 72 h de formação foi capaz de eliminar as bactérias viáveis, presentes na superfície do aço. Entretanto, a desinfecção com peróxido de hidrogênio não foi capaz de eliminá-las. Nas duas condições, porém, as análises de EIE do sistema aço/biofilme mostraram que o mesmo não foi completamente removido da superfície do metal. Correlacionando os dois casos, pode-se inferir que a superfície do aço inox 304L é rapidamente colonizada pelas duas espécies microbianas e que as técnicas de limpeza e desinfecção são capazes de reduzir e até eliminar as células viáveis, embora não removam completamente o biofilme da superfície. Por outro lado, é importante ressaltar que fatores como a arquitetura, espessura e porosidade do biofilme, e propriedades intrínsecas da superfície, são fatores que afetam os valores de impedância medidos, sendo necessário considerá-los na análise, tanto da formação do biofilme, quanto dos efeitos dos procedimentos de limpeza e desinfecção / Techniques for chemical or mechanical cleaning are usually employed to prevent the formation of biofilm and the problems associated with the colonization of surfaces by micro-organisms. In this work, samples of 304 L stainless steel were submitted to experiments of accelerated growth of biofilm, which was subsequently removed by cleaning and disinfection treatment (heat shock with water at 70 C for 1h, cleaning with phosphoric acid 20% v/v for 30 min and disinfection with hydrogen peroxide 0,17% v/v for 1h). In order to verify the influence of these treatments on biofilm removal, analyses of microbial quantification and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), before and after the treatments were employed. Two cases were studied. In the first case, it was simulated the conditions found in piping for hospital environment and systems for the distribution of hot water. The micro-organism used was the bacteria Serratia marcences. The process of biofilm formation and subsequent cleaning and disinfection was performed continuously for 15 weeks. The results of measurement of microbial and EIS showed that since the first week of exposure and during the testing, an adherent biofilm was formed on the steel surface and that the use of cleaning and disinfecting treatments were not effective in removing biofilm. In a second case, it was simulated the conditions present in the pipes of the mineral water industry, using the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this case, the cleaning and disinfection techniques were applied individually and as a whole. The application of heat shock, as well as acid cleaning, to the biofilm formated after 72 h was able to eliminate the viable bacteria present in the steel surface. However, disinfection with hydrogen peroxide was not able to eliminate them. In both conditions, however, the EIS analysis of the steel/biofilm system showed that it was not satisfactorily removed from the metal surface. Comparing the two cases, it can be inferred that the surface of 304L stainless steel is rapidly colonized by the two microbial species studied and that the cleaning and disinfection techniques are able to reduce and even eliminate viable cells, although they could not completely remove the biofilm from the surface. On the other hand, it is important to note that factors such as properties of the electrode surface (roughness, porosity and adsorption), the electrode potential, and the architecture, thickness and porosity of the biofilm, are factors that affect the measured impedance values, it is necessary to consider them in the analysis of biofilm formation and effects of cleaning and disinfection

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Técnicas de limpeza química ou mecânica são comumente empregadas para evitar a formação de biofilmes e problemas associados com a colonização de superfícies por micro-organismos. Neste trabalho, amostras de aço inox 304L foram submetidas a ensaios acelerados de crescimento de biofilme, o qual foi posteriormente removido por tratamentos de limpeza e desinfecção (choque térmico com água a 70C por 1h, limpeza com ácido fosfórico 20 % v/v por 30min e desinfecção com peróxido de hidrogênio 0,17 % v/v por 1h). Com o objetivo de verificar a influência destes tratamentos na remoção do biofilme, este foi caracterizado (por quantificação microbiana e análises de espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica - EIE), antes e após a aplicação dos tratamentos. Dois casos foram estudados. No primeiro caso, simularam-se condições presentes em tubulações de ambientes hospitalares e sistemas de distribuição de água quente. O micro-organismo utilizado foi a bactéria Serratia marcences. O processo de formação de biofilme e posterior limpeza e desinfecção foi realizado de modo contínuo durante 15 semanas. Os resultados de quantificação microbiana e de EIE mostraram que desde a primeira semana de exposição e ao longo dos ensaios, formou-se um biofilme aderente à superfície do aço e que o emprego dos tratamentos de limpeza e desinfecção não foi eficaz na remoção do biofilme. Em um segundo caso, simularam-se condições presentes em tubulações da indústria de água mineral, empregando-se a bactéria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Neste caso, as técnicas de limpeza e desinfecção foram aplicadas individualmente e em conjunto. A aplicação de choque térmico, assim como da limpeza ácida, sobre um biofilme com 72 h de formação foi capaz de eliminar as bactérias viáveis, presentes na superfície do aço. Entretanto, a desinfecção com peróxido de hidrogênio não foi capaz de eliminá-las. Nas duas condições, porém, as análises de EIE do sistema aço/biofilme mostraram que o mesmo não foi completamente removido da superfície do metal. Correlacionando os dois casos, pode-se inferir que a superfície do aço inox 304L é rapidamente colonizada pelas duas espécies microbianas e que as técnicas de limpeza e desinfecção são capazes de reduzir e até eliminar as células viáveis, embora não removam completamente o biofilme da superfície. Por outro lado, é importante ressaltar que fatores como a arquitetura, espessura e porosidade do biofilme, e propriedades intrínsecas da superfície, são fatores que afetam os valores de impedância medidos, sendo necessário considerá-los na análise, tanto da formação do biofilme, quanto dos efeitos dos procedimentos de limpeza e desinfecção / Techniques for chemical or mechanical cleaning are usually employed to prevent the formation of biofilm and the problems associated with the colonization of surfaces by micro-organisms. In this work, samples of 304 L stainless steel were submitted to experiments of accelerated growth of biofilm, which was subsequently removed by cleaning and disinfection treatment (heat shock with water at 70 C for 1h, cleaning with phosphoric acid 20% v/v for 30 min and disinfection with hydrogen peroxide 0,17% v/v for 1h). In order to verify the influence of these treatments on biofilm removal, analyses of microbial quantification and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), before and after the treatments were employed. Two cases were studied. In the first case, it was simulated the conditions found in piping for hospital environment and systems for the distribution of hot water. The micro-organism used was the bacteria Serratia marcences. The process of biofilm formation and subsequent cleaning and disinfection was performed continuously for 15 weeks. The results of measurement of microbial and EIS showed that since the first week of exposure and during the testing, an adherent biofilm was formed on the steel surface and that the use of cleaning and disinfecting treatments were not effective in removing biofilm. In a second case, it was simulated the conditions present in the pipes of the mineral water industry, using the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this case, the cleaning and disinfection techniques were applied individually and as a whole. The application of heat shock, as well as acid cleaning, to the biofilm formated after 72 h was able to eliminate the viable bacteria present in the steel surface. However, disinfection with hydrogen peroxide was not able to eliminate them. In both conditions, however, the EIS analysis of the steel/biofilm system showed that it was not satisfactorily removed from the metal surface. Comparing the two cases, it can be inferred that the surface of 304L stainless steel is rapidly colonized by the two microbial species studied and that the cleaning and disinfection techniques are able to reduce and even eliminate viable cells, although they could not completely remove the biofilm from the surface. On the other hand, it is important to note that factors such as properties of the electrode surface (roughness, porosity and adsorption), the electrode potential, and the architecture, thickness and porosity of the biofilm, are factors that affect the measured impedance values, it is necessary to consider them in the analysis of biofilm formation and effects of cleaning and disinfection

Les propriétés finales des alliages métalliques sont directement liées à la microstructure de fin de mise en forme. Les mécanismes de recristallisation dynamique (DRX) et post-dynamique (PDRX) jouent un rôle important sur les évolutions microstructurales intervenant pendant et après les étapes de déformation à chaud. Dans ce contexte, un défi majeur pour les industriels et les chercheurs est de prédire la microstructure obtenue en fonction des conditions de mise en forme. Cela implique de bien connaître les mécanismes de DRX et PDRX et leur cinétique. Les modèles en champ complet permettent de modéliser explicitement la microstructure des alliages métalliques et ses possibles évolutions à l’échelle du polycristal. Ces modèles sont précis comparativement aux modèles œuvrant aux plus grandes échelles, mais ils sont généralement très couteux en termes de temps de calcul. Les modèles à champ moyen sont quant à eux basés sur une description implicite de la microstructure, conduisant à des temps de calcul considérablement réduits, mais ils reposent sur un grand nombre d’hypothèses, notamment topologiques. Cette thèse propose un nouveau modèle champ complet de DRX/PDRX et croissance de grains, capable de fonctionner en 2D comme en 3D, et une nouvelle approche en champ moyen, s'appuyant sur ces simulations en champ complet. La nouvelle approche champ moyen prend notamment mieux en compte les effets topologiques pour une meilleure prédiction des distributions de tailles de grains. Ce travail inclut une procédure de calibration et une validation des deux modèles s'appuyant sur une campagne d’essais expérimentaux sur un acier austénitique 304L. / Final properties of metal alloys are directly related to their microstructure, inherited from the processing route. Dynamic (DRX) and post-dynamic recrystallization (PDRX) mechanisms play a primordial role in microstructure evolutions occurring during and after hot-deformation. Within this context, predicting microstructures depending on the applied thermomechanical conditions is a major challenge for both industrials and researchers. This requires a good knowledge of recrystallization mechanisms and kinetics. Full field models are based on an explicit description of the microstructure of a metallic alloy, and its possible evolutions at a polycrystalline scale. These models are accurate compared to models operating at larger scales, but they generally lead to prohibitive numerical costs. On the other hand, mean field models are based on an implicit description of the microstructure, leading to considerably reduced numerical costs, but they are based on many assumptions, notably with regards to topology. The outcome of this PhD work is a new full field model of DRX/PDRX and grain growth, working in 3D as well as in 2D, and a new DRX/PDRX mean field approach which better accounts for topological effects, and provides better predictions for grain size distributions. This work also includes a calibration procedure and a validation of these two new models, using experimental data obtained from compression tests performed on the 304L austenitic steel.

Le travail s’intéresse aux effets de l’histoire de chargement sur le comportement et la durée de vie en fatigue de deux nuances (THYSSEN et CLI)d’un acier inoxydable austénitique 304L à la température ambiante. Les essais ont été réalisés en utilisant deux catégories d’éprouvettes. Les éprouvettes de la première catégorie (vierges) ont été soumises à des essais classiques de fatigue,alors que celles de la deuxième ont subi, avant les essais de fatigue, un pré-écrouissage monotone ou cyclique en déformation imposée. Les éprouvettes vierges manifestent un adoucissement cyclique suivi d’un durcissement cyclique alors que les éprouvettes pré-écrouies ne présentent qu’un durcissement cyclique. Les résultats montrent une grande influence du pré-écrouissage qui semble bénéfique en contrainte imposée, mais néfaste en déformation imposée,même en présence d'une contrainte moyenne de compression. Ces résultats sont discutés en termes d'évolution cyclique du module d'élasticité, des écrouissages isotropes et cinématiques, et de la densité d’énergie absorbées par cycle, dans différentes configurations : avec ou sans pré-écrouissage, en contrainte ou déformation imposées... / This study deals with the effect of the loading history on the cyclic behavior and the fatigue life of two kinds (THYSSEN and CLI) of 304L stainless steel at room temperature. The experiments have been performed using two specimens’ categories. The first one (virgin) has been submitted to only classical fatigue tests while in the second category, prior to the fatigue test, the specimen is subjected to a pre-hardening process under either monotonic or cyclic strain control. Cyclic softening followed by cyclic hardening are observed for the virgin specimens while only cyclic softening is exhibited by the pre-hardened specimens. The obtained results show that fatigue life is strongly influenced by the pre-hardening: it seems beneficial under stress control but detrimental under strain control, even in the presence of a compressive mean stress. The results are discussed regarding the cyclic evolution of the elastic modulus aswell as the isotropic and kinematic parts of the strain hardening, and strain energy density per cycle, in different configurations: with or without prehardening,stress or strain control...

Les cermets, nommés M(p)-CMC(s), " Ceramic Matrix Composite dispersed with Metallic Particles ", sont prometteurs dans les applications à haute température. Un cermet modèle (304L-YSZ) constitué de 40 % vol. de particules d'acier inoxydable 304L dispersées dans une matrice de zircone partiellement stabilisée à l'yttrium a été préparé par métallurgie des poudres. Les cermets sont homogènes et possèdent une densité voisine de 97 % par rapport à la densité théorique. Une étude cinétique basée sur l'hypothèse de l'étape limitante, a été réalisée afin de proposer un mécanisme et un modèle d'oxydation du cermet. Dans un premier temps, l'oxydation de la poudre d'acier inoxydable a été étudiée sous oxygène à 800 °C. Les expériences d'oxydation sous He (80 %)-O2 (20 %) ont été conduites par thermogravimétrie. Conformément à la littérature, la cinétique d'oxydation de la poudre suit un régime de diffusion. Une couche d'oxyde à base de chrome à croissance externe est observée.En revanche, la cinétique d'oxydation du cermet modèle est différente de celle de la poudre de 304L. Un fort gain de masse est observé dès l'introduction de l'oxygène au début du palier isotherme. Pendant le palier isobare, la prise de masse est lente et n'est pas régie par la diffusion. La caractérisation des cermets oxydés montre que des nodules riches en chrome apparaissent tout d'abord à l'intérieur du métal. Puis une couche d'oxyde à base de chrome et de fer se forme par croissance externe. La matrice de zircone ne limite pas la diffusion de l'oxygène vers le métal. Elle se fissure sous l'action des contraintes mécaniques induites par le changement de volume des particules de 304L pendant l'oxydation.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo conhecer o comportamento do aço inoxidável austenítico AISI 304L para o processo de Estampagem Incremental de Chapas (ISF - Incremental Sheet Forming), baseado nos parâmetros: raio da ferramenta RT, ângulo de parede a e passo vertical dz. Os experimentos baseiam-se na variante da Estampagem Incremental denominada Estampagem Incremental com Ponto Simples (SPIF - Single Point Incremental Forming). Foram realizados 29 ensaios, em três ferramentas com raios de 5, 8 e 10 mm. Basicamente, a estrutura empregada foi um dispositivo para fixação da chapa, um centro de usinagem vertical e um software de CAD/CAM. O melhor acabamento da superfície conformada medido através da média da rugosidade Rz foi alcançado com ferramentas de raio de 10 mm. Após a conformação, os corpos de prova apresentaram um significativo encruamento de seus grãos, o que conduziu parte da microestrutura originalmente austenítica a uma transformação martensítica induzida por deformação (efeito TRIP). Pode-se constatar também, que existe uma tendência do aumento do ângulo de parede aumentar a microdureza da região encruada. Os ensaios de Estampagem Incremental nesta pesquisa mostram que os gráficos das deformações exibem a tendência de que o modo como ocorrem as deformações, aproximam-se muito da deformação plana (Q2 0). / The objective of this work is to study the behavior of austenitic stainless steel AISI 304L during the ISF process (Incremental Sheet Forming). The study was based on the following parameters: tool radius RT, wall angle and vertical depth dz. The tests were based on a variation of the ISF process, called SPIF (Single Point Incremental Forming). A total of 29 tests were performed with 5, 8 and 10 mm of tool radius. Basically, the structure used was a rig for attachment of the sheet, a Vertical Machining Center and a CAD/CAM software. The best surface finish formed, measured by parameter RZ, was obtained with 10 mm of tool radius. After the forming, the specimens presented a significant mechanical hardening of the grains, which induced part of the microstructure originally austenitic to a martensitic transformation induced by deformation (TRIP effect). It can also be verified that there is a tendency that the increase of the wall angle increases the micro hardness of the mechanical hardened area. The graphs of strains show a trend: the deformation mode is very close to plane strain conditions (Q2 0).

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo conhecer o comportamento do aço inoxidável austenítico AISI 304L para o processo de Estampagem Incremental de Chapas (ISF - Incremental Sheet Forming), baseado nos parâmetros: raio da ferramenta RT, ângulo de parede a e passo vertical dz. Os experimentos baseiam-se na variante da Estampagem Incremental denominada Estampagem Incremental com Ponto Simples (SPIF - Single Point Incremental Forming). Foram realizados 29 ensaios, em três ferramentas com raios de 5, 8 e 10 mm. Basicamente, a estrutura empregada foi um dispositivo para fixação da chapa, um centro de usinagem vertical e um software de CAD/CAM. O melhor acabamento da superfície conformada medido através da média da rugosidade Rz foi alcançado com ferramentas de raio de 10 mm. Após a conformação, os corpos de prova apresentaram um significativo encruamento de seus grãos, o que conduziu parte da microestrutura originalmente austenítica a uma transformação martensítica induzida por deformação (efeito TRIP). Pode-se constatar também, que existe uma tendência do aumento do ângulo de parede aumentar a microdureza da região encruada. Os ensaios de Estampagem Incremental nesta pesquisa mostram que os gráficos das deformações exibem a tendência de que o modo como ocorrem as deformações, aproximam-se muito da deformação plana (Q2 0). / The objective of this work is to study the behavior of austenitic stainless steel AISI 304L during the ISF process (Incremental Sheet Forming). The study was based on the following parameters: tool radius RT, wall angle and vertical depth dz. The tests were based on a variation of the ISF process, called SPIF (Single Point Incremental Forming). A total of 29 tests were performed with 5, 8 and 10 mm of tool radius. Basically, the structure used was a rig for attachment of the sheet, a Vertical Machining Center and a CAD/CAM software. The best surface finish formed, measured by parameter RZ, was obtained with 10 mm of tool radius. After the forming, the specimens presented a significant mechanical hardening of the grains, which induced part of the microstructure originally austenitic to a martensitic transformation induced by deformation (TRIP effect). It can also be verified that there is a tendency that the increase of the wall angle increases the micro hardness of the mechanical hardened area. The graphs of strains show a trend: the deformation mode is very close to plane strain conditions (Q2 0).

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo conhecer o comportamento do aço inoxidável austenítico AISI 304L para o processo de Estampagem Incremental de Chapas (ISF - Incremental Sheet Forming), baseado nos parâmetros: raio da ferramenta RT, ângulo de parede a e passo vertical dz. Os experimentos baseiam-se na variante da Estampagem Incremental denominada Estampagem Incremental com Ponto Simples (SPIF - Single Point Incremental Forming). Foram realizados 29 ensaios, em três ferramentas com raios de 5, 8 e 10 mm. Basicamente, a estrutura empregada foi um dispositivo para fixação da chapa, um centro de usinagem vertical e um software de CAD/CAM. O melhor acabamento da superfície conformada medido através da média da rugosidade Rz foi alcançado com ferramentas de raio de 10 mm. Após a conformação, os corpos de prova apresentaram um significativo encruamento de seus grãos, o que conduziu parte da microestrutura originalmente austenítica a uma transformação martensítica induzida por deformação (efeito TRIP). Pode-se constatar também, que existe uma tendência do aumento do ângulo de parede aumentar a microdureza da região encruada. Os ensaios de Estampagem Incremental nesta pesquisa mostram que os gráficos das deformações exibem a tendência de que o modo como ocorrem as deformações, aproximam-se muito da deformação plana (Q2 0). / The objective of this work is to study the behavior of austenitic stainless steel AISI 304L during the ISF process (Incremental Sheet Forming). The study was based on the following parameters: tool radius RT, wall angle and vertical depth dz. The tests were based on a variation of the ISF process, called SPIF (Single Point Incremental Forming). A total of 29 tests were performed with 5, 8 and 10 mm of tool radius. Basically, the structure used was a rig for attachment of the sheet, a Vertical Machining Center and a CAD/CAM software. The best surface finish formed, measured by parameter RZ, was obtained with 10 mm of tool radius. After the forming, the specimens presented a significant mechanical hardening of the grains, which induced part of the microstructure originally austenitic to a martensitic transformation induced by deformation (TRIP effect). It can also be verified that there is a tendency that the increase of the wall angle increases the micro hardness of the mechanical hardened area. The graphs of strains show a trend: the deformation mode is very close to plane strain conditions (Q2 0).

The main objective of the thesis was to gain better understanding of key parameters associated with Cold Work (CW) and their possible effects on Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) susceptibility of Austenitic Stainless Steels (ASS) cold rolled to different degrees. The microstructural characterisation of the cold rolled ASS was carried out using optical microscopy to determine and correlate the average grain size with the level of CW. The assessment of martensite development during the CW was carried out using the neutron diffraction technique. The effects of CW levels and strain paths on the lattice strain evolution during the in-situ loading and on the mechanical failure of cold worked ASS were studied. The electrochemical behaviour of cold rolled ASS was also studied. Finally, The SCC susceptibility of ASS was investigated using the Slow Strain Rate Testing (SSRT) techniques. The post-mortem analyses of the failed samples were carried using the optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The study showed that the average grain size decreases with CW and reaches minimum at 20%CW. The smallest and the largest grain size occurred consistently on the Longitudinal (L) and Short-transverse (S) plane respectively. Evidence of martensite development was only found during the plastic deformation at cryogenic temperature and none was observed at ambient temperature. The study showed that the strength of material increases with the level of CW. The Bauschinger effect occurred when the strain path is reversed and its magnitude is independent on whether the tensile or compressive prestraining comes first or last but rather dependent on the amount of CW. The correlation between the CW levels and the lattice strain evolution during the in-situ loading showed that, the lattice strain increases with prestrain and reaches saturation in the material prestrained to 20%CW.The result of the mechanical failure test showed that, 20% cold rolled material loaded along the L and Transverse (T) directions showed a gradual failure, whilst the material loaded along the S direction exhibited a rapid failure. The SEM micrographs suggest that materials loaded along the L and T direction failed with the characteristic features of pure ductile failure while the specimen loaded along S direction showed mixed features of the ductile and brittle failure. The electrochemical properties of the cold rolled materials are more affected by sample orientation than the levels of CW. The short-transverse plane was observed to be most noble whilst the longitudinal plane was the least noble. The results of the SSRT in the chloride environment showed that the plastic elongation, the ultimate tensile strength and the time to failure decrease as the applied potential increases. The post-mortem analysis of the failed samples with the SEM showed that, the fracture surface contained region of ductile failure characterised by dimples, and region of SCC with secondary cracks along the loading axis. Whilst the cross sectional analysis, showed evidence of predominant transgranular stress corrosion cracks. The study found that SCC susceptibility of the ASS is directly linked to strain heterogeneity and directional anisotropy caused by cold working.

Automated narrow-gap girth-butt welds are replacing conventional welding methods to join sections of austenitic stainless steel pipe in the primary circuit of Pressurised Water Reactors, to reduce manufacturing costs and improve quality. To ensure the safe operation of these systems, reliable structural integrity assessments have to be undertaken, requiring the mechanical properties of welded joints to be characterised alongside the weld residual stress magnitude and distribution.This research project characterised, for the first time, the weld residual stress field and the tensile and ductile fracture toughness properties of a 33 mm thick narrow-gap 304L stainless steel pipe weld. The residual stress was characterised using two complementary approaches: deep hole drilling and neutron diffraction. A novel neutron diffraction scanning technique was developed to characterise the residual stress field, without cutting an access window into the component, leaving the original weld residual stress field undisturbed. A modified deep hole drilling technique was developed to characterise the residual stress retained in fracture mechanics specimens extracted from the pipe weld in two orientations. The modified technique was shown to measure the original weld residual stress field more accurately than through conventional deep hole drilling. Residual stresses, exceeding 50% of the weld material proof strength, were retained in axially-orientated fracture mechanics specimens.Tensile tests showed that the weld was approximately 60% overmatched. It was demonstrated that neither retained residual stress, nor specimen orientation, had a discernible effect on the measured fracture toughness of the weld material. In less ductile materials, however, the level of retained residual stress may unduly influence the measurement of fracture toughness. At initiation, the fracture toughness properties of both the parent and weld materials were far in excess of the measuring capacity of the largest fracture mechanics specimens that could be machined from the weld.The influence of residual stress and fracture toughness on the performance of narrow-gap welded pipework was investigated. Full elastic-plastic finite element analyses were used to model the pipe weld, containing a postulated defect under combined primary and secondary loading. The results, applied within the framework of an R6 structural integrity assessment, compared different plasticity interaction parameters on the prediction of failure load; the conventional ρ-parameter approach was compared with the recently developed, more advanced, g-parameter. It was shown that the g-parameter significantly reduced the conservatism of the ρ-parameter approach. However, for this pipe weld, plastic collapse was predicted to precede failure by ductile initiation, suggesting that a plastic collapse solution may be an appropriate failure criterion to use in structural integrity assessments of similar component and defect combinations.