Creep Constitutive Model and Component Lifetime Estimation: The Case of Niobium-Modified 9Cr-1Mo Steel Weldments

The θ-projection parametric method was used to analyze the creep strain versus time data, obtained in uniaxial tension, from weldments fabricated using a niobium-modified 9Cr-1Mo steel as the weld metal (Ellis, Private communication, 1991, provided the data). We used these data to illustrate a methodology whereby the θ-projection method may be used to obtain estimates of component design creep lifetimes, for specified sets of design stress, temperature, and strains. Furthermore, it is suggested that the creep strain results may be consistent with dislocation climb being the creep deformation mechanism in the alloy.