Editorial

Materials and structural assessment under high temperature creep and fatigue

For long-term, reliable, safe and economic operation of power plants, improved high temperature structural integrity assessment methodologies are needed. For enhanced performance, as well as condition assessment, of materials and components in-service, the development of advanced and novel methods for structural integrity assessment continues to be a challenge for researchers and technologists. In particular, with the increasing number of aging plants, the need for improved understanding of materials behaviour in service-critical components must be emphasised.

Some of these issues were addressed at the dual conference incorporating the 4th International Conference on Structural Integrity of High Temperature Welds, and the 9th International Conference on Creep and Fatigue at Elevated Temperatures, held on 24–27 September 2012 in London. The two conferences were organised by IoM³ and sponsored by IMechE, through a UK Organising Committee supported by an International Advisory Board.

This special issue of MRI presents a selection of articles, from the dual conference, which address recent advances in the structural integrity of high temperature welds and creep and fatigue behaviour at elevated temperatures. The special issue includes 10 research papers^1–10 which describe both original research and industrial experience, covering a wide range of topics, including: welding simulation and residual stresses; weld repairs strategy for power plant pipework; creep and creep–fatigue crack growth and fracture, including similar and dissimilar welds; creep behaviour of nickel based superalloys; creep material behaviour models; strain rate effects on low cycle fatigue; and modelling of creep in friction stir welds. The topics were chosen for their relevance to power plant applications, involving material and component assessment. All contributions were subject to the journal’s standard peer review procedures before publication.

We would like to thank the authors, referees and conference organisers who have contributed to the publication of this special issue. Thanks are also due to Maney Publishing and Mark Hull for their sponsorship and support of this special issue.

W. Sun, A. A. Becker and T. H. Hyde

University of Nottingham, UK