Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Robert G Aspden

Thomas G Bengel

A crack propagation test specimen has a base metal and a clad metal. The base metal has an upper surface and a bottom surface with a hole extending from the bottom surface toward the upper surface. The cladding metal is supported on the upper surface of the base metal and has a first slot cut therethrough which is in fluid flow communication with the hole in the base metal. A second slot is cut in the cladding metal adjacent to the first slot for receiving a wedge. The first slot and the second slot define a wall which closes over the first slot when a wedge is forced into the second slot to simulate a hairline crack. A mechanically deformed metal sample is disposed in the hole in the base metal to simulate a stressed base metal supporting a cladding metal subject to hairline cracking.

Crack propagation test specimen

A test specimen for evaluating crack propagation and associated wear and corrosion on cladded piping is provided. The test specimen simulates the hairline crack conditions found on the inner cladding layer of a piping system. The test specimen is useful in analyzing the effects that a certain process fluid has on an exposed cracked cladding layer surface.

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Franklin Township, PA, United States of America

Robert G Aspden