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

在澳大利亚，环境辅助裂化（EAC）对过程、海洋、能源和化学工业中暴露于苛性和氯化物环境中的基础设施构成了严重威胁。尽管进行了广泛的研究，但对于EAC尚无共识机制。该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，研究一种延长受EAC影响的现役设备寿命的新方法。这项任务包括制定一项综合策略，其基础是：准确确定裂纹扩展的基本参数，以及在裂纹尖端和前面对材料进行就地热处理，以延缓/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.