Fatigue Life Prediction for Finite Ratchetting of Bellows at Cryogenic Temperatures

Abstract

The expansion bellows, used in the magnet interconnections of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), are designed for severe service conditions (cryogenic temperatures, high internal pressure, large cyclic deflections). According to the results of the material research, a stainless steel of grade AISI 316 exhibits a high ductility at cryogenic temperatures. This results in the development of the plastic strain fields in the bellows wall, subjected to cyclic loadings, and to failure after a comparatively low number of cycles. In the present work the progressive deformation (ratchetting) of bellows subjected to a sustained load (internal pressure) and to a superimposed cyclic deflection programme at cryogenic temperatures is examined. In order to estimate the number of cycles to failure a generalized Manson-Coffin equation was developed. The model is based on two parameters: the ratchetting induced mean plastic strain and the plastic strain amplitude. The material model is based on the bilinear elastic-plastic response with kinematic hardening. The cyclic hardening and the evolution of the material model parameters (yield strength and hardening modulus) are accounted for. The finite element simulation of the initial 20 cycles leads to an estimation of the accumulated plastic strains and enables the calculation of the fatigue life of the bellows. An experimental stand for cryogenic fatigue tests is also presented and the first verification tests are reported.