The criteria for the maintenance evaluation of long-lived metal of the equipment of heat power plants during the acoustic structuroscopy of weld joints of vapor pipelines and boiler drums are described. The data on the change of the structural state of metal during long-term operation of heat-resistant steels are given. The dependences of the criteria versus the values of local fields of internal stresses of a crystal lattice are given. The relationship between the integrated criterion and the durability of heat-resistant steels is presented.

The paper presents the results of the analysis of the microstructure, mechanical properties, acoustic and magnetic characteristics of the metal of pipelines that are part of heat and power equipment, after long-term operation, made of structural and heat-resistant steels in the zones of localization of plastic deformation. Samples of 0.2 C steel and 0.12C-1Cr-1Mo-1V steel were studied in the initial state, as well as after operation for 219 and 360 thousand hours, respectively. As a result of the studies carried out for each sample, the phase composition was determined (qualitatively and quantitatively), and the following parameters of the fine structure were calculated: volume fractions of structural components of steel (pearlite and ferrite), scalar ρ and excess ρ± dislocation density, curvature-torsion of the crystal lattice χ, amplitude of internal stresses (shear stress and long-range stresses). All quantitative parameters of the structure are determined both in each structural component of steel, and in general for each sample. The structure of the metal of all specimens after deformation before the formation of zones of stable localization of deformations consists of a ferrite-pearlite mixture, and for specimens after operation before fracture only of unfragmented and fragmented ferrite. Ferrite, which occupies the bulk of the material, is present both unfragmented and fragmented. For all samples, the ratios ρ ≥ ρ_±, χ = χ_pl, σ_L ≥ σ_d were calculated, which indicate whether there is a danger of the initiation of microcracks in metal samples. For specimens without operation and after operation without damage in zones of stable localization of deformations, these conditions are met, and for specimens after operation until destruction, they are not met. It was found that the structural-phase state in the zones of localization of deformations has a direct effect on the characteristics of non-destructive tests. Thus, for all investigated samples, the values of such parameters as the delay time of the surface acoustic wave, the attenuation coefficient, the amplitude of the received signal, and the intensity of magnetic noise in the zones of deformation localization were established.

The main approaches to the technical diagnosis and assessment of residual life of potentially dangerous equipment FEC, currently in use. A new conceptual model resource assessment of parts and units of fuel and energy complex. On the issue of technical diagnostics are considered in complex positions.

The work shows that the values of the yield strength of steel 20 after long-term operation and deformation, which have been obtained experimentally and by calculation, differ significantly. This is primarily due to the fact that all coefficients require experimental verification. However, the data obtained can be used to determine the role of each contribution (in %) in relation to the total contribution. Relaxation of such high local internal stresses (due to the appearance and intensive growth of the elastic component) can (and does) occur only through the destruction of the sample, which is what is observed. Therefore, it is the emergence and increase of local internal stresses that leads to the destruction of the sample.

The paper addresses the issue of the structure and phase composition of welded joint and focuses on their investigation after plastic deformation. The contribution of internal stresses to the formation of phase composition and fine structure of welded joint is shown herein. Electrode welding is used to obtain welded joint in St3 steel. Specimens are subjected to a quasi-static tensile deformation ranging from 0 to 5% under 370 MPa loading. TEM investigations on thin foil specimens allow studying the structure and phase composition within the heat-affected zone at 1 mm distance from base material and 0.5 mm from welding material. The degree of plastic deformation is shown for both base and welding materials and includes their morphology, phase composition, defect structure and its parameters. Long-range stresses are divided into plastic and elastic. Plastic deformation has no qualitative effect on the material structure, however, it modifies its quantitative parameters. With the increase of deformation degree, the perlite component becomes more imperfect and transforms, first, to a fractured perlite and then to ferrite, thereby decreasing the volume ratio of perlite. Polarization of the dislocation structure is observed. The amplitude of internal stress fields grows. Unlike the shear stresses, long-range stresses manifest their intensive growth. The elastic component makes the major contribution to the long-range stresses resulting in the formation of microcracks.