This thesis discusses the types of bridge expansion joints certified for use in the Czech Republic and their disorders. The first part was a theoretical evaluation of expansion joint failures. The second part focused on clarifying the failure of anchor bolts at the cantilever expansion joint. On the basis of determining the cause was then designed a method for determining the durability of expansion joints. Prognosis life cycles corresponds records according to administrator- repair works.

This thesis aims to reveal the correlation between stress corrosion cracking propagation behavior and Schmid and Taylor factor mismatch using EBSD analysis. <div><br></div><div>Chloride induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) is one of the most vulnerable weaknesses for the widely used austenitic stainless steel in many industries. The complex nature of CISCC involves mechanical, electrochemical, and microstructural perspectives. The objective of this thesis is to assess CISCC phenomenon in austenitic stainless steel from the mechanical and crystallographic perspective, specifically on the effect of local strain and stress and anisotropic plastic deformation. Austenitic stainless steel 304L test coupons are bent in four-point bending fixtures to obtain tensile stress for CISCC, followed by corrosion experiment in boiling magnesium chloride solution. Stress state of the sample is evaluated by finite element analysis (FEA) and X-ray Diffraction Crystallography (XRD) prior corrosion test. Cross section of the cracked region are analyzed with Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) to analyze the relationship between CISCC behaviors and crystallographic features in the sample. Schmid factor and Taylor factor are used to quantitatively evaluate CISCC initiation and propagation behavior. It is learned that in polycrystalline FCC stainless steel, mismatch of Schmid factor and Taylor factor values in adjacent grains along crack path governs CISCC propagation susceptibility and path selection. Crack propagation factor competition model is proposed based on observations from EBSD maps, incorporating Schmid factor and Taylor factor mismatch, electrochemical condition of crack tip, and anisotropic properties. <br></div>

In this work, Slow Strain Rate Test (SSRT) testing, Light Optical Microscopy (LOM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to study the effect of micro-structure, corrosive environments and cathodic polarisation on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of two grades of high strength steels, Type A and Type B. Type A is manufactured by quench and tempered (Q&amp;T) method. Type B, a normalize steel was used as reference. This study also supports electrochemical polarisation resistance method as an effective testing technique for measuring the uniform corrosion rate. SSRT samples were chosen from base metal, weld metal and Heat Affected Zone (HAZ). SSRT tests were performed at room temperature under free corrosion potential and cathodic polarisation using 4 mA/cm2 in 1 wt% and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions. From the obtained corrosion rate measurements performed in 1 wt% and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions it was observed that increased chloride concentration and dissolved oxygen content enhanced the uniform corrosion for all tested materials. Moreover, the obtained results from SSRT tests demonstrate that both Q&amp;T and normalized steels were not susceptible to SCC in certain strain rate(1×10-6s-1) in 1 wt% and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions under free corrosion potential. It was con-firmed by a ductile fracture mode and high reduction in area. The weld metal of Type A with acicular ferrite (AF), pro-eutectoid (PF) and bainite microstructure showed higher susceptibility to hydrogen assisted stress corrosion cracking compared to base metal and HAZ. In addition, typical brittle intergranular cracking with small reduction in area was observed on the fracture surface of the Type A due to hydrogen charging.

Heat exchanger tubes are commonly made from stainless steel.In a heat exchanger both the process fluid and the cooling orheating media can be corrosive. It is therefore important to beable to select materials that do not suffer from corrosion.Current methods in this area, however, suffer from limitationsand shortcomings. This thesis concerns corrosion tests forgeneral corrosion, dewpoint corrosion and stress corrosioncracking, respectively. For evaluation of general corrosion ofsuperduplex stainless steels in hydrochloric acid and sulphuricacid the importance of activation was studied. The results showthat activation has a great influence on the test result.Further the results indicate that experimental differences canbe the explanation for previously reported differences incorrosion resistance of superduplex stainless steel that havebeen attributed to the alloying with Cu and W. Furthermore, asimple test loop for testing stainless steels under dew formingconditions with a formed condensate of 1 % hydrochloric acidhas been developed. In the work constant strain and constantload test result have been compared and the observationsindicate that the differences can be explained by differencesin the relaxation properties of the materials. <b>Key words:</b>corrosion testing, heat exchanger, stainlesssteel, general corrosion, immersion tests, activation, stresscorrosion cracking, constant load, u-bends, relaxation,dewpoint corrosion / NR 20140805

Visualization is used for stainless steel container wall and lid cross section characterization. Two specific types of containers are examined: 3013 and SAVY. The container wall examined is from a sample of the inner container of a 3013 container. The inner lid cross section examined is from a SAVY container. Laser confocal microscope data and photographic data are used to determine features of the surfaces. The surface features are then characterized by various feature statistics, such as, maximum depth, area, eccentricity, and others. The purpose of this pilot study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of using the methodology to detect potential corrosion events on the inner container surfaces. The features are used to quantify these corrosion events. An automatic image analysis system uses this methodology to classify images for possible further human analysis by flagging possible corrosion events. A manual image analysis methodology is used to determine the amount of MnS on the SAVY container lid cross section. Visualization is an integral component of the analysis methodology.

No description available.

Stress corrosion, SC, in some cases gives rise to stress corrosion cracking, SCC, which differs from purely stress intensity driven cracks in many aspects. They initiate and grow under the influence of an aggressive environment in a stressed substrate. They grow at low load and may branch. The phenomenon of SCC is very complex, both the initiation phase and crack extension itself of SCC is seemingly associated with arbitrariness due to the many unknown factors controlling the process. Such factors could be concentration of species in the environment, stress, stress concentration, electrical conditions, mass transport, and so on.In the present thesis, chemically assisted crack initiation and growth is studied with special focus on the initiation and branching of cracks. Polycarbonate plates are used as substrates subjected to an acetone environment. Experimental procedures for examining initiation and branching in polycarbonate are presented. An optical microscope is employed to study the substrate.The attack at initiation is quantified from pits found on the surface, and pits that act as origin for cracks is identified and the distribution is analysed. A growth criterion for surface cracks is formulated from the observations, and it is used to numerically simulate crack growth. The cracks are seen to coalesce, and this phenomenon is studied in detail. Branching sites of cracks growing in the bulk of polycarbonate are inspected at the sample surface. It is found that the total width of the crack branches are approximately the same as the width of the original crack. Also, angles of the branches are studied. Further, for comparison the crack growth in the bulk is simulated using a moving boundary problem based algorithm and similar behaviour of crack branching is found. / <p>Both papers in thesis as manuscript, paper II with title "Branching cracks in a layered material - Dissolution driven crack growth in polycarbonate"</p>

In this work, Slow Strain Rate Test (SSRT) testing, Light Optical Microscopy (LOM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were used to study the effect of microstructure, corrosive environments and cathodic polarisation on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of two grades of high strength steels, Type A and Type B. Type A is manufactured by quench and tempered (Q&amp;T) method. Type B, a normalize steel was used as reference. This study also supports electrochemical polarisation resistance method as an effective testing technique for measuring the uniform corrosion rate. SSRT samples were chosen from base metal, weld metal and Heat Affected Zone (HAZ). SSRT tests were performed at room temperature under Open Circuit Potential (OCP) and cathodic polarisation using 4 mA/cm2 in 1 wt% and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions. From the obtained corrosion rate measurements performed in 1 wt% and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions it was observed that increased chloride concentration and dissolved oxygen content enhanced the uniform corrosion for all tested materials. Moreover, the obtained results from SSRT tests demonstrate that both Q&amp;T and normalized steels were not susceptible to SCC in certain strain rate (1×10-6 s-1) in 1 wt% and 3.5 wt% NaCl solutions under OCP condition. It was confirmed by a ductile fracture mode and high reduction in area. The weld metal of Type A with acicular ferrite (AF), pro-eutectoid (PF) and bainite microstructure showed higher susceptibility to hydrogen assisted stress corrosion cracking compared to base metal and HAZ. In addition, typical brittle intergranular cracking with small reduction in area was observed on the fracture surface of the Type A due to hydrogen charging.

No description available.

No description available.