Evaluation Of Non-Uniformity In Mechanical Properties Of Pipe Elbows By Orientation And Location

To investigate the nonuniformities in the mechanical properties in pipe elbows, tensile tests were conducted using specimens machined from different orientations and locations of SA403 WP316 stainless steel (SS) and SA234 WPB carbon steel (CS) elbows. Regardless of the test temperature and elbow type, the mechanical properties were nearly independent of specimen orientations but highly dependent on the circumferential locations. In the SA403 WP316 SS elbows, the highest yield strength and lowest elongation were observed at the crown, and the minimum yield strength and maximum elongation were observed at extrados. In the SA234 WPB CS elbows, the intrados showed the highest yield strength and lowest elongation, while the properties at the crown and extrados were almost similar. The difference in mechanical properties along the circumferential locations was more pronounced in the SA234 WPB CS elbows than SA403 WP316 SS elbows. Moreover, these differences are associated with local differences in the microstructures of elbows, which depend on their manufacturing processes.