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Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 51 57

1st International Conference on Structural Integrity, ICONS-2014

Comparative Assessment for Static Creep and Tension-Tension

Cyclic Creep Behaviors of Modified 9Cr-1Mo Steel
Woo-Gon Kima,*, Jae-Young Parkb, I.M.W. Ekaputrab and Jinsung Jang a
a
Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 989-111 Daedeokdaero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-353, Republic of Korea
b
Pukyong National University, 365 Shinsunro, Nam-gu, Busan 608-739, Republic of Korea
*
E-mail ID: wgkim@kaeri.re.kr

Abstract

Cyclic creep (CC) tests were performed with the magnitudes of the stress range of constant stress ratio (R=0.1) under continuous
tension-tension loading cycles at a hold time of 10 minute at 600oC for normalized and tempered modified 9Cr-1Mo steel. Cyclic
strain-time curves were obtained from the controlled cyclic creep tests, and the cyclic creep behavior was investigated and
compared with the static creep (SC) behavior. In the present test conditions, the results of creep rupture time and creep rate
showed retardation behaviour when compared with those of the static creep. Creep rupture ductility decreased with a decrease in
stress, and the ductility was almost the same for the CC and SC. In the fracture micrographs, the CC showed typical ductile
fracture preceded by many dimples which occurred in the equi-axed core. The dimple size and area decreased with a decrease in
the stress ranges. The precipitates formed in the CC test specimens were more coarsened than those in CC ones.

2014
2014 The
The Authors.
Authors. Published
Published by
by Elsevier
ElsevierLtd.
Ltd.This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research.
Peer-review under responsibility of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research
Keywords: Creep, Cyclic creep, Modified 9Cr-1Mo steel, Stress range, Creep strain rate

1. Introduction
Modified 9Cr-1Mo steel (ASME Grade 91, hereafter Gr. 91) is regarded as a promising candidate for
structural materials of Genneration-IV (Gen-IV) reactor types such as steam generators, intermediate heat
exchangers, and hot pipes in sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFR) [1-2], as well as pressure vessels (RV) in very high
temperature reactors (VHTR) [3]. Currently, KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) has established an
R&D program to develop the Gen-IV SFR and VHTR system by 2028, and key technologies for constructing the
reactors are being developed step by step through the R&D program [4-5]. Since the structural components of the
SFR and VHTR systems are designed to last for up to 60 years at elevated temperatures, the service conditions will
expose the components to loading requiring resistance to creep, fatigue, or superimposed creep/fatigue. In many

1877-7058 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research
doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2014.11.010
52 Woo-Gon Kim et al. / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 51 57

cases, however, static creep (SC) of monotonic loading and conventional fatigue testing represents a poor simulation
of actual service conditions. The term cyclic creep (or dynamic cyclic creep) has been used to describe a number
of testing conditions where load control is involved and where cycling frequencies are too low to simulate the
creep/fatigue interaction. The parameters of cyclic loading may vary in a broad region of stress and time. It is known
that there can be considerable interaction between creep and cyclic loading. The effect of cyclic loading can either
accelerate or retard of the creep life and creep rate depending on the material structure, temperature, and stress
conditions [6-10].

Cyclic deformation behavior is important in practice because high-temperature structural components are
exposed under the cyclic conditions of repeated loading. In the case of static creep, the response of the material is
simple as a static state. However, in the case of cyclic creep (CC), it is complex because of a dynamic loading.
Furthermore, cyclic creep data have been rarely reported until now. It has not been understood well whether the
cyclic creep will accelerate or retard the creep rate and creep life compared with static creep, because not only is the
plastic deformation under cyclic loading drastically different from that under monotonic loading, but the cyclic
creep response is dependent on the cycling frequency, stress range, stress ratio, and hold period of cycling [7].
Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the cyclic creep behavior influencing the creep deformation and fracture process.

In the present investigation, a series of the cyclic creep tests was carried out using the magnitudes of stress
range of constant stress ratio (R=0.1) under continuous tension-tension loading cycles with a hold time of 10
minutes. Cyclic creep curves were obtained with time variations, and their properties were compared with the static
creep tests. Microstructures for fractured specimens after the CC tests were also observed using SEM and analyzed.

2. Experimental Procedure

2.1. Materials and Test Conditions

A commercial grade hot-rolled Gr. 91 steel plate was used for the testing material. The heat treatment
condition of the steel was normalized and tempered at 1050 C/1 mim/mm and 770 C/3 mim/mm. The plate
thickness was 16 mm. The specimens for the cyclic creep tests were of a cylindrical form with a 30 mm gauge
length and 6 mm diameter. The cyclic creep tests were conducted with applied stress ranges (R) at a constant stress
ratio of R=0.1(min/max) of 20MPa (min.)/200MPa (max.), 19MPa/190MPa, 18MPa/180MPa, and 17MPa/170MPa
at a fixed hold time of 10 minutes (th) at 600oC. The stress range (R = max - min) was chosen as a variable
parameter. The stress ranges at R = 0.1 were 180MPa (R1), 171MPa (R2), 162MPa (R3), and 153MPa (R4), as
listed in Table 1. The R values were chosen for a lower value than the yield stress of 247.5MPa, which was
obtained by the tensile tests for Gr. 91 steel at 600oC. In the cyclic creep tests, the cross-head moving speed to a
maximum stress from a minimum stress was fixed at 3,920N/min.

2.2. Cyclic Creep Test Procedures

Load-controlled tension-tension cyclic tests were performed using a universal testing machine with a
100KN capacity (Model No.: RB Unitech-M), manufactured by R&B company in Korea. The cyclic loading of the
maximum and minimum stresses was applied to a specimen using an AC servomotor type, which can be periodically
repeated in the clockwise and counterclockwise rotations. The main components are composed of a three-zone
heating furnace, temperature controller, extensometer, strain gage, data acquisition system (PC and monitor), and
program controller.

The cyclic tests were automatically conducted according to a scheduled program. The real-time data of the
strain and stress at elapsed times were monitored and collected by a PC through a high-precision LVDT. The
temperature during the cyclic creep tests was maintained to within 2C. The steady state creep rate in the cyclic
creep was taken as a mean value of the secondary creep strain data. In this work, to reasonably compare the creep
properties between the CC and SC, the steady state creep rate and rupture time were determined by taking the half
value of the total elapsed time, as the unloading time during a minimum stress of cycling does not practically
contribute to creep deformation. All of the experimental procedures referred to the recommendations of ASTM
E139. Loading schedules for the cyclic creep tests are shown in Fig. 1.
 Woo-Gon Kim et al. / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 51 57 53

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Cyclic Creep Curves

Fig. 2 show typical cyclic creep curves obtained for the stress range R = 171MPa (R =190MPa-19MPa)
under stress ratio of R=0.1 for a 10min hold time at 600oC. The curve shows the well-defined primary creep stage,
secondary creep stage, and tertiary creep stage, like text book creep appeared in the static creep curves. The
secondary creep stage occupied almost the entire creep life. It seems that the cyclic creep curves were no different in
their shapes compared with the static creep curves. The black part in figure (a) indicates a number of stress profiles
with time variations. Enlarged magnification of the primary and secondary creep stages is clearly shown in figure
(b). It is thus identified that stress and strain profiles with time variations are accurately monitored. Also, the profiles
of typical cyclic creep curves were obtained for a stress range R = 153MPa (R =170MPa-17MPa) under a stress
ratio of R=0.1 for a 10min hold time at 600oC. It appeared that in the strain-time profiles, the width of the strain
range increased gradually to the secondary creep stage from the primary creep stage. However, the width was
constant for the secondary creep stage. This at the secondary creep stage is because the material was balanced
between hardening and softening during creep.

3.2. Comparison of the SC and CC behavior

Creep rupture data in cyclic creep such as the rupture time, steady state creep rate (SSCR), rupture
elongation (RE) and reduction of area (ROA) were obtained for Gr. 91 steel at 600oC. The CC results were
compared with the static creep ones. Here, the steady state creep rate in the cyclic creep curves was determined from
the mean value of the strain profile range at the secondary creep stage, and the stress value was used for maximum
stress. Also, the values of the creep rupture time and steady state creep rate are determined for the half values of
elapsed time, because the unloading time corresponding to a minimum stress during cycling does not practically
contribute to creep deformation.

Fig. 3 shows a comparison of Nortons power-law plot obtained for the CC and SC tests. The cyclic creep
rate was slower than the static creep rate. The material constants of Nortons power law,  ss = A were
n

obtained. In the CC, the A value was 2.72x10-15 (MPa-n s-1), and the n value of the slope was 1.086, and in the SC,
the A value was 4.30x10-16 (MPa-n s-1), and the n value of the slope was 1.103. From a comparison of the SC and CC
in log stress vs. log rupture time, we identified that the creep rupture life of the CC was higher than that of the SC.

Fig. 4 shows a comparison of the results for the SC and CC using a Monkman-Grant (M-G) plot indicating
the relationship between the creep rupture time and steady state creep rate. The M-G plot revealed good linearity for
both the SC and CC, respectively. In the M-G equation, log t r + m log  ss = C MG , the m values of the linear
slope for the CC and SC were almost the same as around 0.81-0.83. At the same rupture time, the creep rate of the
CC was lower than that of the SC. Therefore, in this cyclic test condition, it was verified that the creep rate was
retarded when compared with the SC. This reason for this is due to higher creep strength in the CC, as shown in the
Larson-Miller plot in Fig. 5. It is also believed that the material was recovered during the hold time of 10 minutes at
the minimum stress. Further, an accelerated effect in the CC did not occur because the value of the minimum stress
in the maximum and minimum of cycling stresses was much lower. The comparison results of the CC and SC for
the rupture ductility (reduction of area) as a function of stress were shown in Fig. 6. The creep rupture ductility
decreased with increase in rupture time stresses, but there was no difference for the CC and SC.

3.3. Fracture Micrographs in the Cyclic Creep

Fig. 7 shows typical SEM photos taken for four CC specimens of 20/200MPa (200MPa), 19/190MPa (190
MPa), 18/180MPa (180MPa), and 17/170MPa (170MPa)) after the cyclic creep tests. The fracture on the different
applied stress ranges showed displayed the SC-like characteristics. The CC creep fracture was preceded by necking
as in the static creep fracture. Many dimples were observed at fracture surface of aqui-axed center region. Fracture
surface revealed dimple morphology similar to rupture occurred under tensile loading at R.T. Fracture mode was
dominated for ductile failure of typical cup and cone type, as shown in Fig. 8.
54 Woo-Gon Kim et al. / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 51 57

Fig. 9 shows the size and density of dimples measured at the high stress (a) and low stress (b) after the CC
tests. These size and area of the dimples decreased with a decrease in the stress ranges. The shapes of the higher
stress specimens were more irregular than those of the lower stress specimens. At a low stress sample (17/170MPa),
fine size dimples occurred due to dominance of nucleation process of dimples. At a high stress sample, large size
dimples occurred due to dominance of growth process of dimples because a high applied shear stress is favoring the
growth of dimples, as shown in Fig.9.

Fig. 10 shows the precipitates formed during the CC tests at 600oC for Gr. 91 steel. A grip region (a) of
stress free distributed the fine and steady precipitates along the boundaries. However, after the CC tests in gage
section (b), carbide precipitates were significantly distributed at prior austenite grain boundary (PAGB), packed
boundary, block boundary, and lath boundary due to the cyclic creep stress. They were more coarsen and dense in
the lower stress samples of longer rupture time than high stress ones of shorter rupture time

4. Conclusions
Under these cyclic test conditions, the results of the creep rupture time and creep rate showed retardation
when compared with those of static creep. The reason for this is believed to be that the material was recovered
during the 10-minute hold time corresponding to the minimum cycling stress, and it is also believed that the value of
the minimum stress was much lower. The cyclic creep results followed well the plot of Nortons power law and the
Monkman-Grant (M-G) relation. The creep rupture ductility decreased with a decrease in stresses, and there was no
difference between the CC and SC. It was observed that the final fracture in the cyclic creep tests was preceded by
necking as in the static creep fracture. Many creep voids (or dimples) occurred near the necking area. However, the
size and area of the voids decreased with a decrease in the magnitude of R, and the shapes of the higher stress
specimens were more irregular than those of the lower stress specimens.

References
1. Raj B, and Choudhary B K, Trans Indian Inst Met 63 (2010) 75.
2. Choudhary B K, and Isaac Samuel E, J Nucl Mater 412 (2011) 82.
3. Kim W G, Park J Y, Yin S N, Kim D W, and Kim S J, Kor J Met Mater 29 (2011) 275.
4. Kim W G, Park J Y, Kim S J, and Jang J, Mater Des 51 (2013) 1045.
5. Kim W G, Park J Y, Hong S D, and Kim S J, Nuclear Engineering and Design 241(2011) 3580.
6. Shetty D K, Mura T and Meshii M, Materials Science and Engineering 20 (1975) 261.
7. Zrnik J, Wang J A, Yu Y, Peijing L, and Hornak P, Materials Science and Engineering A234-236 (1997) 884.
8. Eom J H, Shin D H, and Nam S W, J. of the Korean Institute of Metals 20(10) (1982) 922.
9. Park Y K, Kim T S, Choi J H, and Wee M Y, J. Kor. Inst. Met. & Mater. 38(5) (2000) 624.
Boulbibane M and Ponter A R S, European J. of Mechanics A / Solid 21 (2002) 899.
 Woo-Gon Kim et al. / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 51 57 55

Table 1. Cyclic creep test conditions

Stress ratio Stress range, Hold time
R=0.1 (R =max- (high/low)
(min/max) min) (MPa) (sec/sec)
22/220 198 600/600
21/210 189 600/600
20/200 180 600/600

19/190 171 600/600

18/180 162 600/600
17/170 153 600/600

Fig. 1. Loading schedules for cyclic creep tests

200
200

150 150
Stress (MPa)

Stress (MPa)

100 100
50
50
0
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 0 5 10
18 1.0
16 0.9
14 0.8
12 0.7
Strain (%)

Strain (%)

10 0.6
8 0.5
0.4
6
0.3
4 0.2
2 0.1
0 0.0
0 100 200 300 400 500 0 2 4 6 8 10
Time (h) Time (h)
(a) CC creep curves (b) Enlarged stress-strain profiles

Fig. 2. Cyclic creep curve at R = 171MPa (19MPa/190MPa) for 10min hold time at 600oC

4
1E-5 5x10

SC SC
CC CC
1E-6
Steady state creep rate (1/s)

3
5x10
Time to rupture (h)

1E-7 Y =-3.70659-0.83368 X

2
1E-8 5x10

1E-9
1
5x10
Y =-3.49329-0.78579 X
1E-10

1E-11 5x10
0

140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 1E-10 1E-9 1E-8 1E-7 1E-6 1E-5
Stress (MPa) Steady state creep rate (1/s)
56 Woo-Gon Kim et al. / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 51 57

Fig. 3. Creep rate vs. stress for CC and SC Fig. 4. Rupture time vs. creep rate for CC and SC
260 120

240 SC
CC
100
220

Reduction of area (%)

Stress (MPa)

200
80

180

60
160

140 40 SC
CC

20
120 0 1 2 3 4
1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.2 10 10 10 10 10
4
T(log (tr)+20), (x10 ) Time to rupture (h)

Fig. 5. Larson-Miller plot for CC and SC Fig. 6. Reduction of area vs. rupture time for CC and SC

Fig. 7. SEM fractographs for four specimens (20/200MPa (200MPa), 19/190MPa (190MPa), 18/180MPa (180MPa),
17/170MPa (170MPa)) ruptured by the cyclic creep tests
 Woo-Gon Kim et al. / Procedia Engineering 86 (2014) 51 57 57

(a) 20/200MPa (b) 17MPa/170MPa

Fig. 8. Fracture surface after CC tests for 10min hold time at 600oC: (a) R = 180MPa (20MPa/ 200MPa) and (b) R
= 153MPa (17MPa/170MPa))

60 60

55 =200MPa Total dimple area = 153.7 m 55 =170MPa 2

Total dimple area = 69.4 m
50 Average dimple dia. = 13.2 m 50 Average dimple dia. = 9.2 m

45 45

40 40
Frequency

35
Frequency

35

30 30

25 25

20 20

15 15

10 10

5 5

0 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Dimple diameter (m) Dimple diameter (m)
(a) R = 180MPa (20MPa/200MPa) (b) R = 153MPa (17MPa/170MPa)

Fig. 9. Dimple size and density measured at the high stress (a) and low stress (b) after the CC tests

Grip region (17/170MPa) 17/170MPa

m
5
(a) Grip section region (17/170MPa) (b) Gage section region (17/170MPa)
Fig. 10. Precipitates formed during the tests at 600oC