A Re-Autofrettage Procedure for Mitigation of Bauschinger Effect in Thick Cylinders

Abstract

A manufacturing procedure for enhancing residual stresses and thereby improving fatigue lifetime and fracture resistance of pressure vessels is proposed. The procedure involves initial autofrettage; one or more “heat soak plus autofrettage” sequences and an optional final heat soak. Stresses are calculated numerically for traditional, single autofrettage and compared with those created by the new procedure. The loss of bore compressive hoop stress due to Bauschinger effect is predicted to be significantly reduced. Associated fatigue lifetime calculations indicate that life may be improved by a factor of between 2 and 30, depending upon tube geometry and the ratio of cyclic pressure to yield strength. Repeated overload plus heat soak cycles may also be of benefit in other engineering design scenarios.