Life Extension of Equipment Suffering Environmentally-Assisted Cracking: An Innovative Approach to Mitigation by Engineering of Materials in Service

环境辅助裂解（EAC）对澳大利亚加工、海洋、能源和化学工业中暴露于苛性碱和氯化物环境的基础设施构成严重威胁。尽管进行了广泛的研究，但EAC没有共识机制。本项目将通过开发和测试一种合理独立于EAC机制的缓解措施，研究延长遭受EAC的在役设备寿命的新方法。该任务包括一个巩固的战略发展的基础上：裂纹扩展的基本参数的准确测定，并在裂纹尖端和提前的材料的局部操作的原位热机械处理，以延迟/停止裂纹扩展。

Environmentally-assisted cracking (EAC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to caustic and chloride environments in process, marine, energy and chemical industries in Australia. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus mechanism for EAC. This project will investigate a fresh approach to life extension of in-service equipment suffering EAC, by developing and testing a mitigation measure reasonably independent of the EAC mechanisms. The task includes development of a consolidated strategy based on: accurate determination of the fundamental parameters for crack propagation, and in-situ thermomechnical treatment for local manipulation of material at and ahead of crack-tip, in order to retard/stop crack propagation.