Evaluation of Microstructures and Creep Damages in HAZ of P91 Steel Weldment

The present paper aims to clarify the Type IV creep damage process of Mod.9Cr-1Mo (Gr.91) steel weldment. Long-term creep tests for base metal and simulated fine-grained HAZ and welded joints were conducted at 550, 600 and 650 °C. Furthermore, creep tests of thick welded joint specimens were interrupted at 0.2, 0.5, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9 of rupture life, and damage distributions were measured quantitatively. It was found that creep voids initiated at the early stage of life inside the specimen thickness, and grew into cracks at the later stage of life. Experimental creep damage distributions were compared with computed ones using FEM and damage mechanics analysis. The effect of multiaxial stress condition on creep damage evolution is discussed.