Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre deformações de geotêxteis ao longo do tempo, considerando interações entre reforço e solo confinante em muros de solo reforçado. O programa experimental desenvolvido para esse fim envolveu duas etapas básicas. Na primeira etapa, um novo equipamento foi desenvolvido na Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos/USP, para a realização de ensaios de fluência com um elemento de solo reforçado. O equipamento desenvolvido permite simular o mecanismo típico de transferência de carga em estruturas de solo reforçado, isto é, o solo solicita o geotêxtil. Esse equipamento também possibilita que solo e geotêxtil apresentem deformações ao longo do tempo de forma interativa. Nessa etapa, o programa de ensaios foi conduzido utilizando-se uma areia pura e um geotêxtil de polipropileno. Na segunda etapa deste trabalho, modelos de muros de solo reforçado foram ensaiados em centrífuga na Universidade do Colorado em Boulder, EUA. Os referidos modelos foram construídos utilizando-se uma areia e mantas de poliéster e de polipropileno. Alguns modelos foram carregados até a ruptura com acréscimo de aceleração, enquanto outros foram observados, no decorrer do tempo, sob aceleração constante. Nos ensaios para investigação de fluência, deformações significativas foram observadas, ocorrendo, inclusive, a manifestação de ruptura em determinados modelos, após algumas horas de ensaio. Os ensaios realizados nas duas etapas do trabalho revelaram aspectos importantes relativos à interação solo-reforço. Com base na interpretação dos resultados experimentais, apresenta-se uma discussão sobre mecanismos de deformação, em função do tempo, em muros de solo reforçado. / This thesis presents a study on the time- ependent deformations of geotextiles in reinforced soil walls considering the long-term interactive behavior between the reinforcement and the confining soil. The experimental program comprised two distinct phases. In the first phase, a new equipment was designed and constructed at the School of Engineering at Sao Carlos/USP, Brazil, in an attempt to perform creep tests with an element of reinforced soil. This equipment simulates the typical load transfer mechanism in reinforced soil structures, that is, the load is transferred from the soil to the reinforcement. This equipment also allows long-term interactive deformations between the soil and the geotextile. The testing program of this phase was conducted using a pure dry sand and a polypropylene geotextile. In the second phase of this research, models of reinforced soil walls were tested in a centrifuge facility at the University of Colorado at Boulder, USA. The models were built using a pure dry sand and a polyester or polypropylene geotextile. The models were either loaded until failure increasing the centrifugal acceleration or tested under constant acceleration. Considerable strains were observed in the creep tests, and some of the models failed after a few hours. The testing programs carried out in this study revealed important aspects of the soil-reinforcement interaction. Based on the analyses of the experimental results a broad discussion on long-term deformation mechanisms in reinforced soil walls is made herein.

O comportamento em fluência é uma propriedade fundamental dos geossintéticos utilizados em estruturas de solo reforçado. Este parâmetro geralmente é caracterizado por meio de ensaios padronizados, que utilizam corpos de prova em condição não confinada, com temperatura e umidade controlada. Embora este ensaio seja utilizado na prática atual, o mesmo apresenta dois pontos negativos: grande tempo demandado para obtenção de uma resposta significativa quanto a esse comportamento (até 10.000 horas de ensaio) e o fato de não considerar o efeito do confinamento em solo. Para contornar essas deficiências, os ensaios padronizados podem ser realizados em temperaturas elevadas e sob condição de confinamento em solo. Estas abordagens têm sido apresentadas na literatura técnica, a fim de considerar cada um desses aspectos, mas apenas de forma independente. Recentemente, foi desenvolvido um equipamento capaz de conduzir ensaios de fluência confinado e acelerado em geossintéticos, considerando simultaneamente ambas as preocupações abordadas. Deste modo, este trabalho apresenta um conjunto de ensaios de fluência realizados sob diferentes condições com este equipamento. Um geotêxtil não-tecido e uma geogrelha biaxial foram utilizados para os ensaios, que compreenderam a deformação por fluência sem confinamento e em confinamento para ambos os geossintéticos e na ruptura por fluência, em condição confinada, para o geotêxtil não-tecido. Os resultados mostraram que a utilização de temperaturas elevadas permitiu acelerar a determinação do comportamento em fluência e que o efeito do confinamento se traduz por uma diminuição das taxas de deformação por fluência. Além disso, os resultados dos ensaios de ruptura por fluência na condição confinada indicam que os fatores de redução devido à fluência sugeridos na literatura técnica apresentam-se conservadores. / The creep behavior is one of the most important properties of geosynthetics used in reinforced soil structures. This parameter is usually characterized by standard tests, using in-isolation specimens, with controlled temperature and humidity conditions. Although their widespread use, these tests present two main concerns: they are time-consuming and may not consider the possibly significant effect of soil confinement. Together, these aspects may lead to expensive tests and conservative results. In order to address them, standard tests could be performed at elevated temperatures and under the confinement of soil. Several approaches have been presented in the technical literature in order to consider each of these aspects, but only independently. Recently, a new apparatus was developed in order to conduct confined and accelerated creep tests using geosynthetics. Thus, both concerns involving standard creep tests (i.e. elevation of the test temperature and specimen under soil confinement) are addressed simultaneously. This work presents a set of creep tests performed under different conditions with this equipment. A non-woven geotextile and a biaxial geogrid were used in these tests, which comprised the creep deformation behavior both in in-isolation and in-soil conditions and geosynthetic creep rupture in condition confined to the non-woven geotextile. Results highlight the importance of both using elevated temperatures to expedite the determination of geosynthetics creep behavior and the effect of soil confinement in lower rates of creep deformations. In addition, it was found that the reduction factors due to creep were considerably lower than those suggested by the literature.

Submitted by Marcele Costal de Castro (costalcastro@gmail.com) on 2017-09-27T16:54:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 GONÇALO RODRIGUES DOS SANTOS D.pdf: 3572038 bytes, checksum: dcaae0c198ed0ccd407e2873a2c71fd5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-27T16:54:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 GONÇALO RODRIGUES DOS SANTOS D.pdf: 3572038 bytes, checksum: dcaae0c198ed0ccd407e2873a2c71fd5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1993-03 / O cídotron cv-28/lEN foi utilizado para produzir concentrações uniformes de He simulando, em escala de tempo reduzida, irradiações neutrônicas de metais por reações (n,α). O hélio foi implantado em amostras de aços (AISI 316 e 347 de 100 µm de espessura) nas concentrações de 1 a 100 ppma degradando feixes de partículas alfa de 28 MeV, através de um sistema giratório de degradação de energia. Os efeitos do He nas propriedades mecânicas foram estudados por técnicas destrutivas (tração, "creep", MET e MEV) e não destrutiva (aniquilação de pósitrons). Medidas de tempo de vida de pósitron em amostras irradiadas e tratadas tecnicamente foram usadas para discutir o mecanismo de difusão do He, onde as energias de ativação 0,34 ± 0,03 eV para o aço 316 e 0,57 ± 0,05 eV para o 347, caracterizaram o processo dissociativo acima de 650°C As análises por MET apresentaram indícios do mecanismo de Ostwald ripening no processo de crescimento de bolhas de He nas concentrações estudadas. Do valor obtido para a razão dpa/ppma (1,8 x 10 ̄³), e de acordo com cálculos teóricos concluiu-se que a produção de deslocamentos durante as implantações, por si só, não teve influência significativa na ductilidade. Entretanto, foi observada perda acentuada de ductilidade com a concentração de He para os dois tipos de aço, tanto em tração à temperatura ambiente como em "creep" a 750°C, em toda faixa de tensão aplicada (100 a 200 MPa). Finalmente, foi verificado que a simulação de danos com partículas carregadas associada à técnica de aniquilação de pósitron compõe um método rápido, de relativo baixo custo e útil no estudo de diferentes tipos de danos por irradiação neutrônica de materiais. / The CV-28 cyclotron at IEN has been used to simulate, in a short time scale, uniform He concentrations produced daring neutron irradiation of metals by (n,α) reactions. Helium was implanted at concentrations of 1 to 300 appm in 100 µm thick sheet samples of AISI 316 and 347 SS by degrading a 28 MeV alpha particle beam with a rotating energy degrader. The effects of He on the mechanical properties of the steels were studied by both nondestructive (positron annihilation) and destructive tests (tensile, creep, TEM and SEM). The positron lifetime measurements of irradiated and annealed samples were used as the base to discuss the He diffusion mechanism. Activation energies of 0.34 ± 0.04 eV for 316 SS and 0.57 ± 0.06 eV for 347 SS, characterized a dissociative process above 650°C. TEM analyses have suggested the Ostwald ripening process for bubble growth over the full range of He concentrations studied. It was shown, in agreement with theoretical calculations that, by themselves the displacements produced during the helium implantation, at rate of 1.8 x 10"3 dpa/appm, were not sufficient to cause significant changes in ductility. However, a strong ductility loss with increasing He concentration was observed for both types of steel for tensile tests at 25"C, as well as in creep at 750°C over the range of strain (100 to 200 MPa). Finally, it was shown that charged particle simulation associated with positron annihilation techniques provides a fast, relatively low cost, and useful method to study different kinds of neutron damage in materials.

Increased availability of natural gas has boosted research and development efforts to further increase gas turbine performance. Performance has been increased remarkably and unit cost reduced due to achievements gained in improving thermodynamic cycles and cooling technologies. However, increased complexity in power industry regulations and fluctuations in fuel price have indicated that all the aforementioned improvements in gas turbine performance could not cope with the increased competition in the gas turbine industrial market. Innovation within the aero-derivative concept has enabled further significant improvement in the performance of industrial gas turbines. It allows a more beneficial approach than developing new designs of industrial gas turbines owing to reduced designing time and cost. Objectives in this project focus on developing a methodology of design and assessing aeroderivative gas turbine engines derived from a 130-seat aircraft engine. Developed methodology includes techno-economic and environmental assessment, conducted through further developments of models based on Techno-economic and Environmental Risk Assessment (TERA) philosophy, to be applied in further industrial applications. Tools used in this investigation include a significant literature research on the development of aero-derivative gas turbine technologies, including thermodynamic cycles and its land-based applications. Turbomatch is a homebased code developed in Cranfield University, used in calculating design point and predicting off-design performance of parent aero-engine and the aeroderivative engines developed. Excel and FORTRAN code are also used in calculating engine’s design parameters, and creating a model of life estimation Creep. Moreover, FORTRAN code is used for building emission and economic models for power generation and combined heat and power applications. Finally, MATLAP code is used in creating a small model for generating performance TXT files, and running marine integrated models platform. All models needed to develop the methodology have been created, and calculations of an engine’s performance and assessment were conducted based on this developed methodology. Sensible results are generated from the investigated methodology and they show acceptable designs of aero-derivative engines on different thermodynamic cycles. Based on the acceptable level of technology and material thermal barriers, all design and off-design performance limitations of new developed aero-derivative engines have been determined for a wide range of ambient conditions. Techno-economic and environmental assessment performed through implementing the developed aero-derivative engines on power generation and marine applications under different operating scenarios. Results of operating the engines on power generation and marine applications have been investigated and compared. It is observed that engines respond differently when operating under different environmental profiles, depending on the number of units engaged and their thermodynamic cycle as well as mechanical configurations. Also, the selected specific gas turbine engine can be the best economical choice for operating on determined scenario, while it cannot be when operating in different scenarios. Assessment of developed engines on the investigated application shows how the lowest specific cost (small engine size) can constitute important criteria in engine selection.

Abstract Low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) based system-in-package (SiP) is an emerging multilayer module technology for wireless communication applications, mainly due to its excellent high-frequency material properties. LTCC-SiP modules are typically soldered onto an organic motherboard, but the lifetime of the 2nd-level solder joints is often poor due to the high stress level of the joints in test/field conditions. Moreover, using lead-free solders in the interconnections of LTCC modules raised new questions about the feasibility and reliability of the solder joints in LTCC applications. Therefore, the characteristic features of the 2nd-level solder joint configuration were determined in this thesis work. It was proved that collapsible Sn4Ag0.5Cu spheres are not a feasible option in LTCC/PWB assemblies with a large global thermal mismatch; a non-collapsible ball grid array (BGA) joint with a plastic core solder balls (PCSBs) was required to attain an adequate lifetime for such assemblies. To enhance the thermal fatigue endurance of the non-collapsible lead-free joints, a novel BGA joint consisting of Sn7In4.1Ag0.5Cu solder and PCSBs was developed. Moreover, this work proved that there is a relationship between the primary failure mechanisms of various Sn-based lead-free solders and thermomechanically induced stress level in the present non-collapsible BGA joint configuration. The effect of the plating material of the solder lands on the failure mechanism of the BGA joints in the LTCC/PWB assemblies was studied. The results showed that the adverse phenomena related to the sintered Ag-based metallization materials can be avoided using electroless nickel with immersion gold (ENIG) as a deposit material. On the other hand, this study also demonstrated that the inadequate adhesion strength of the commercial base metallization in the ENIG-plated modules resulted in the disadvantageous failure mechanism of the test assemblies. Therefore, the criteria for material selection and the design aspects of reliable 2nd-level interconnections are discussed thoroughly in this thesis.

Il s'agit dans ce travail de développer une démarche multiéchelles, afin d'identifier puis de modéliser le comportement mécanique d'un matériau à gradient de propriétés (un cordon de soudure) en relation avec les hétérogénéités microstructurales responsables de la déformation et de l'endommagement par fluage des aciers P91, matériaux retenus pour des applications de tenue mécanique à chaud des centrales thermiques à flamme. Cette étude porte sur l'utilisation des techniques de mesure de champs cinématiques par corrélation d'images couplées aux simulations numériques par éléments finis. Les différentes zones d'intérêt sont : le métal de base, l'ICHAZ (intercritical heat affected zone), la FGHAZ (fine grain heat affected zone), la CGHAZ (coarse grain heat affected zone) et le métal fondu. L'identification a porté dans un premier temps sur le comportement en traction et traction–relaxation à l'ambiante et à 625°C. Cette phase a permis d'établir une loi de comportement pour chacune des zones du joint soudé et de prédire la zone de localisation de déformation pour une gamme assez large de vitesse de sollicitation.Une attention particulière a ensuite été portée aux essais de fluage, pour lequel le glissement intergranulaire joue un rôle essentiel dans le comportement du cordon de soudure et notamment dans l'ICHAZ. Afin de mettre en évidence le glissement intergranulaire, une technique de microlithographie a été adoptée. L'effet de ce mécanisme sur le comportement macroscopique et à l'échelle locale a été étudié au moyen de simulations numériques par éléments finis avec introduction de zones cohésives. Pour cela une loi cohésive a été élaborée et validée sur une configuration simplifiée à quatre grains. Ce modèle permet également de rendre compte de la transition fluage dislocation – fluage diffusion en retardant le déclenchement du glissement aux joints de grains quand la vitesse de sollicitation augmente.Cette étude est financée par la Chaire EDF-GDF-SUEZ-GRT gaz - ENSMP –ENPC sur la «durabilité des matériaux et des structures pour l'énergie ». / The goal of this study is to develop a micromechanical approach, to identify and model the elementary mechanisms in connection with the microstructural heterogeneities accountable for the deformation and for the creep damage of P91 steels, material used for applications at high temperature in thermal power plants. This study deals with the use of kinematic full-fields measurements by digital image correlation coupled with finite element numerical simulations for the identification of constitutive equation parameters of materials presenting a strongly heterogeneous microstructure, leading to gradients of mechanical properties. The welded joint in P91 presents various microstructures along the joint: base metal, ICHAZ (intercritical heat affected zone), FGHAZ (fine grain heat affected zone), CGHAZ (coarse grain heat affected zone) and weld metal, which will be characterized by uniaxial tensile tests and tensile-relaxation tests performed at room temperature and at 625°C. These experimental tests enable to establish a constitutive law for each part of the welded joint and for a wide range of strain rate.A particular attention has then been focused on the behaviour at high temperature (creep) for which the intergranular glide plays an essential role, in particular within the ICHAZ. To characterize the grain boundary gliding mechanisms, a technique of microlithography is used. This mechanism is modelled with cohesive zones. A cohesive constitutive equation has been proposed and validated with a simplified four grain configuration. This model is able to take into account the dislocation creep – diffusion creep transition by delaying the beginning of the grain boundaries sliding when the strain rate increases.This study is granted by the EDF-GDF-SUEZ-GRT gas – Mines ParisTech – Ecole des Ponts ParisTech chair on the "durability of materials and structures for the energy ".

Today there is an even higher demand on IT-projects success rate compared to a few years ago. IT-projects must be handled more efficiently and result in a more profitable investment. In order to make the handling of IT-projects more efficient and create profitability the developers must have a broad understanding of the IT-projects characteristics and which factors that affect the result of the projects. Changes within IT-projects are often carried out through the development of a system. Since this change is more common when it comes to IT-projects it is important to handle risk and change within these kinds of projects in order to prevent and avoid uncontrolled changes. Our purpose with this thesis is to investigate if change is a problem in IT-projects. Thereafter we identify and examine procedures to avoid uncontrolled changes within IT-projects and to prevent an unplanned expansion of the project scope. The thesis also results in a method of how this change can be controlled. The thesis has been conducted by studying theory about IT-projects, system development and change management. Further on a qualitative study has been conducted where three persons from different system development companies has been interviewed. After an analysis of the theoretical framework and the empirical research a method has been developed. This method describes the change management process and should function as a support for a more effective handling of changes in order to prevent that uncontrolled changes arises. The method illuminates the importance of a common understanding, planning and identification & priority as three factors in order to create an effective change management. Further on we emphasize the necessity of having a structure of control which covers all steps in the method. Finally we describe how the step of handling change is conducted by presenting the necessary steps to prevent that uncontrolled changes arises. / Det ställs allt högre krav på IT-projekt idag jämfört med för några år sedan. IT-projekt måste hanteras effektivare och resultera i lönsammare investeringar för att projekten skall bli genomförda. För att kunna effektivisera hanteringen av IT-projekt och skapa lönsamhet måste dagens systemutvecklare ha en bred förståelse över IT-projektens karakteristika och vad som kan påverka dess resultat. Ofta sker förändringar inom IT-projekt under utvecklingen av ett system. Eftersom denna förändring är mer påtaglig vad det gäller IT-projekt är det viktigt att hantera risk och förändring vid utförandet av IT-projekt. Detta för att kunna förebygga och undvika att okontrollerade förändringar uppstår. Vårt syfte med uppsatsen är att undersöka om förändring ses som ett problem inom IT-projekt. Därefter identifierar och undersöker vi vilka arbetssätt som finns för att undvika okontrollerade förändringar inom IT-projekt och på så sätt förhindrar en oplanerad expansion av projektomfattningen. Uppsatsen resulterar även i ett tillvägagångssätt för hur denna förändringshantering kan se ut. Uppsatsarbetet har genomförts genom en litteraturstudie där teori om IT-projekt, systemutveckling, riskhantering och förändringshantering har behandlats. Uppsatsarbetet har vidare resulterat i en kvalitativ empirisk undersökning där tre personer som arbetar i systemutvecklingsföretag har intervjuats ingående. Litteraturstudien och den empiriska undersökningen har efter analysering resulterat i en egenutvecklad modell. Denna modell beskriver förändringshanteringsprocessen och skall fungera som ett underlag till en effektiv hantering av förändringar så att okontrollerade förändringar inte uppstår. I modellen belyser vi vikten av förståelse, planering och identifiering & prioritering som tre grundfaktorer för en effektiv hantering av förändring. Vi betonar även vikten av att ha en kontrollstruktur som sträcker sig över samtliga steg i modellen. Slutligen poängterar vi hur själva hanteringssteget skall utföras genom att presentera de steg som måste tas för att undvika att okontrollerade förändringar uppstår.

Les ballons pressurisés développés par le CNES sont des structures de 8,5 à 12 m de diamètre, qui permettent d’emmener dans la stratosphère des équipements scientifiques pour effectuer des expériences de longue durée. La durée de vie de ces ballons est conditionnée par leur comportement mécanique et notamment le comportement en fluage qui s’il est trop marqué, peut engendrer un changement d’altitude se traduisant alors par une augmentation importante de la contrainte dans la membrane. On observe aussi des défaillances des ballons au cours de leur lancement ou après une brève phase de vol (2 à 24 heures). Afin de mieux comprendre le comportement en vol des ballons, le CNES a mis en place depuis plusieurs années un programme de recherche portant sur l’étude du comportement mécanique de ces structures et des films polymères qui les compose. Il s’est intéressé notamment à l’étude expérimentale et à la modélisation du comportement mécanique en fluage des ballons pressurisés. Plusieurs résultats ont été obtenus permettant de prévoir l’évolution dimensionnelle des ballons suite au phénomène de fluage. En revanche le comportement à la rupture de ces films polymère a été très peu étudié de même que les phénomènes supposés à l’origine de la perte de caractéristiques des films polymères constitutifs des ballons. Les travaux engagés durant cette thèse visent à étudier, quantifier et comprendre les mécanismes d’endommagement amenant la rupture prématurée des ballons. Cet endommagement a deux origines supposées ; d’une part des plis dits simples et triples occasionnés par le stockage, la manipulation et le déploiement des ballons et d’autre part l’endommagement de fluage. / The super-pressure balloons developed by CNES are a great challenge in scientific ballooning. Whatever the balloon type considered (spherical, pumpkin...), it is necessary to have good knowledge of the mechanical behavior of the envelope regarding to the flight level and the lifespan of the balloon. It appears during the working stages of the super pressure balloons that these last can exploded prematurely in the course of the first hours of flight. For this reason CNES and LGP are carrying out research programs about experimentations and modelling in order to predict a good stability of the balloons flight and guarantee a life time in adequacy with the technical requirement. This study deals with multilayered polymeric film damage which induce balloons failure. These experimental and numerical study aims, are a better understanding and predicting of the damage mechanisms bringing the premature explosion of balloons. The following damages phenomena have different origins. The firsts are simple and triple wrinkles owed during the process and the stocking stages of the balloons. The second damage phenomenon is associated to the creep of the polymeric film during the flight of the balloon. The first experimental results we present in this paper, concern the mechanical characterization of three different damage phenomena. The severe damage induced by the wrinkles of the film involves a significant loss of mechanical properties. In a second part the theoretical study, concerns the choice and the development of a non linear viscoelastic coupled damage behavior model in a finite element code.

Avec l’augmentation de la pression de confinement, le comportement mécanique des calcairespasse d’un comportement fragile à un comportement ductile. Le régime fragile estcaractérisé par une compaction élastique suivie d’une dilatance macroscopique due à despropagations de fissures. Lorsque les fissures coalescent, la rupturemacroscopique est reliéeà une chute de contrainte. Le régime ductile est caractérisé par une compaction élastiquesuivie d’une déformation macroscopique diffuse. La déformation est accommodée par uneplasticité intracristalline (dislocations, macles) et/ou une fracturation des grains. L’objectif decette thèse est d’examiner expérimentalement les paramètres influant sur le comportementmécanique des calcaires de porosité intermédiaire et de modéliser ce comportement. Lesexpériences ont été réalisées sur le calcaire de Tavel (porosité de 14.7%). / The mechanical behaviour of limestones is brittle at low confining pressure and becomesductile with the increase of the confining pressure. The brittle behaviour is characterisedby a macroscopic dilatancy due to crack propagation, leading to a stress drop when crackscoalesce at failure. The ductile behaviour is characterised by a a diffuse deformation due tointra-crystalline plasticity (dislocation movements and twinning) and microcracking. The aimof this work is to examine the influence of temperature, pore fluid, strain rate, and time onthe mechanical behaviour. Triaxial deformation experiments were performed on white Tavellimestone (porosity 14.7%). The macroscopic behaviour is then modelled.Constant strain rate triaxial deformation experiments and stress-stepping creep experimentswere performed. Elastic wave velocities were inverted in term of axial crack densities. Themechanical behaviour is brittle for constant strain rate deformation experiments performed atPc · 55 MPa. In this case, inelastic deformation is due to cracks propagation. For Pc ¸ 70 MPa,elastic compaction is followed by an inelastic compaction. Porosity collapse is due to intracrystallineplasticity and micro-cracking. After some inelastic compaction, volumetric strainturns to dilatancy because crack nucleate at dislocation pile-ups and their contribution to thestrain becomes predominant compared to plastic pore collapse. In the brittle regime, watersaturationdecreases the differential stress at the onset of crack propagation and enhancesmacroscopic dilatancy. Temperature decreases the confining pressure at the brittle-semibrittle(ductile) transition. A model describing the macroscopic behaviour is derived from (1) a crackpropagation law, (2) a plasticity law for a porous medium, and (3) a law for nucleation of newscracks due to local dislocation pile-ups. The model predicts the volumetric strain, the stresstensor, and the evolution of damage, as a function of applied deformation. Theoretical resultsare in good agreement with experimental observations.

The repair welding of main steam pipelines, which involves the welding of new material onto service-exposed material, are investigated. This paper investigates the literature and experimental work surrounding this subject. The introduction provides a background to the applicable welding technology. In section two the heat-affected zone is discussed with emphasis on the residual stresses that develop in this zone. The mechanical properties of the heat-affected zone are also investigated. This includes the tensile, toughness and hardness properties as well as inspecting the relevant microstructures. The effect of post weld heat treatment on these properties is also investigated. Section three investigates the phenomenon of creep. Not only is this important due to the high temperatures at which these pipelines operate, but creep is also associated with some failures of these weld during post weld heat treatment. The creep properties of the heat-affected zone are investigated in detail with the use of weld simulation. Sections four and five detail reasons for weld failure after welding due to hydrogen and reheat cracking. Hydrogen cracking is investigated with the use of slow strain rate tensile tests during cathodical charging the specimen with hydrogen. The phenomenon of reheat cracking is investigated with the use of high temperature tensile tests as well as a novel approach in which the stress relief of a welded joint is simulated while measuring crack growth and stress relieved. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / gm2014 / Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering / Unrestricted