LCF on turbogenerator rotors and coil retaining rings: material characterization and sensitivity analyses

Turbogenerator rotors and coil retaining rings (CRRs) are highly loaded components typically subjected to LCF at any machine switch-on and switch-off. The present study aims at LCF characterization of two widely applied steels, 26 NiCrMoV 14 5 (for rotor manufacturing) and 18Mn18Cr (for CRR). Material anisotropy is also considered by performing an extended experimental campaign on specimens machined along different (tangential and radial) directions from trial components. The experimental tests, carried out with the use of a novel testing-constraining device for misalignment auto-compensation and with an original methodology for strain controlling, led to the determination of static, cyclic and fatigue curves for all the investigated cases. The research was completed by sensitivity analyses on the adopted models, thus determining fatigue curve tolerance bands, and by a statistical Analysis of Variance to compare the LCF performance of the different materials along the two considered machining directions. Results showed a significantly better performance of 18Mn18Cr and a weak anisotropy effect, remarkable just at the highest strain values, on a reduced portion of the LCF life range.