In the wake of the catastrophic failure of a low-pressure (LP) turbine
disk at the Hinkley Point Nuclear Station in 1969, considerable resea
rch and development has been devoted to the problem of stress corrosio
n cracking (SCC) in steam turbine rotors. Principle factors affecting
the susceptibility of rotors to SCC have been identified as disk yield
strength applied stress level, and surface film/crevice chemistry. Mi
crostructure and cleanliness of the steel have been found to have rela
tively little effect. Advances in steel making and forging over the la
st 20 years have provided manufacturers with additional design and mat
erial options to mitigate the problem Increases in forging size capabi
lities of steel companies and the welded construction of rotors now pe
rmit designing with integral and partial integral rotors that use mate
rials with lower yield strength (more SCC resistant) as well as elimin
ating the SCC problem in bores and keyways. However a recent survey of
U.S. utilities has shown that SCC in the blade attachment legion of L
P rotors is an increasing concern This problem has led to development
of repair and refurbishment methods for rim attachments, especially we
ld buildup of rims with corrosion-resistant alloys. Life prediction of
rotors under SCC conditions currently involves estimating crack growt
h time from assumed defects to critical size. Factors that govern the
location and time of crack initiation are not understood adequately.