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Metallurgical Investigation of a Cracked Splice Plate Used in a Power Transmission Line Tower

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Abstract

Steel splice plates are used in power transmission line towers. During service, some of these plates may fail due the loading stress as well as stress generated due to inclement weather condition. One such failed splice plate, cracked in the heel region of the plate has been studied in detail to find out genesis of such failure. Metallographic study of the failed plate material near the crack and away from the crack indicated presence of white hard martensite layer near the crack. Evaluation of mechanical properties of the plate material carried out at heel and edge regions had also supported the above findings. There was enhancement of hardness, yield strength, tensile strength of the plate near heel which had indicated localized hardening of the plate in this region due to presence of martensite. A substantial deterioration of the Charpy impact toughness of the material at the heel region could also be observed particularly at subzero testing temperatures due to the same reason. The material inadequacies and operational stresses must have caused the initiation and propagation of the cracks in the heel region of the plate leading to its premature failure.

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Acknowledgments

The authors express their gratitude for the support and encouragement received from the management of the Research and Development Centre for Iron and Steel (RDCIS), Steel Authority of India Limited, Ranchi, India for carrying out the job. Thanks are expressed to the personnel of metallography and mechanical testing laboratories of RDCIS, SAIL, Ranchi for conducting the testing jobs in short time. The authors also acknowledge the contributions of Dr. Niladri Sen and Mr. S. Srikant for useful discussions during the course of the investigation and that of Mr. B. Khalko for their assistance in preparation of the manuscript.

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  1. R&D Centre for Iron & Steel, Steel Authority of India Limited, Doranda, Ranchi, 834002, India

    S. K. Dhua, B. B. Patra, P. P. Sarkar, B. Singh & B. K. Jha

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  1. S. K. Dhua
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  2. B. B. Patra
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  3. P. P. Sarkar
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  4. B. Singh
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  5. B. K. Jha
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Correspondence to S. K. Dhua.

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Dhua, S.K., Patra, B.B., Sarkar, P.P. et al. Metallurgical Investigation of a Cracked Splice Plate Used in a Power Transmission Line Tower. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 14, 754–762 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-014-9890-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-014-9890-7

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