On-Line Health Monitoring Research on T-Joint of Main Steam Piping

The main challenge of long-time creep monitoring on site is a reliable sensor. In this paper, a sensing device is developed specifically for high temperature creep monitoring. And it is applied to on-line monitor the strain of material on T-joint of main steam piping. Its reliability is verified theoretically using the finite element method and experimentally by high temperature on site test. The creep damage of the T joint is evaluated basing on the creep rate sensed by the sensing device. And the residual life is predicted for the piping system using the Monkman-Grant equation. This system is useful for safety assessment procedures in thermal power plant, nuclear power plant and petrochemical industries.