Editorial

Welding and microstructure evolution in power generation plant

Advanced design and assessment methods for welded components are needed for the long-term reliable, safe, and economic operation of thermal power generation plant. Materials, operational, and generic factors contribute to the high-temperature performance of engineering structures. Therefore, development of advanced materials for enhanced performance as well as condition assessment of materials in-service stand as challenges for scientists and technologists alike. In particular, the increasing number of aging plants emphasises the need for improved understanding of material behaviour in service-critical components and advanced inspection and monitoring techniques. In addressing this need, harmonised procedures for material testing, analysis, and condition assessment contribute to materials development, design of components, and defect assessment for remaining service life. These issues were among those addressed at the International Conference Welds 2009, held at Sanibel, Fort Myers, FL, USA on 2426 June 2009, which followed the successful Welds 2005 event at GKSS, Geesthacht, Germany. The conference was supported by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards (VAMAS) and the European Structural Integrity Society (ESIS). Special sessions at Welds 2009 were dedicated to the EPRI led programme on Materials for Ultra Supercritical Plants and the International VAMAS TWA31 collaboration on Residual Stresses in Weldments. A back-to-back conference on Welding and Fabrication for New Power Plants, organised by EPRI at the same venue, also contributed to achieving the above-stated goal that spans basic science and engineering, testing, inspection, and assessment of components, through to the design of new power plants. Welds 2009 included keynote, oral, and poster presentations addressing the following themes: welding processes and high temperature (HT) behaviour of welded components; similar and dissimilar welds; weld material characterisation; weld failure modes and life management; weld strength reduction factors; welding of advanced materials (for example, for ultra-supercritical plants); weld repair of aged components; HT testing, inspection, and failure analysis of weldments; numerical analysis of HT welded components; modelling and measurement of residual stresses; effect of load history and creep-fatigue damage on weldments; creep-fatigue crack initiation and growth in weldments; thermo-mechanical and low cycle fatigue of welded components; evaluation of advanced non-destructive testing methods; preventing failures by monitoring plant behaviour; risk-based methods and investigations of failures; emerging guidelines and codes of practices. A panel discussion on Industrial needs and future direction of welding science and engineering was organised at the end of the conference, with participants from industry, academia and utilities. The state of the art was presented and a road map was proposed. The conference served as a platform to discuss progress in the conference themes with participation of over 90 experts, academics and researchers. Four plenary lectures and 52 presentations were delivered over the two and a half days of the conference. A selection of peer-reviewed papers based on these presentations is published in this special issue of Energy Materials. Thanks are due to the conference organisers, sponsors, and exhibitors, and in particular to participants and presenters that made Welds 2009 a success.
Bilal Dogan Electric Power Research Institute Charlotte, NC 28262, USA bdogan@epri.com

Published by Maney Publishing (c) IOM Communications & W S Maney & Son Ltd

Guest Editor

2011 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining and W. S. Maney & Son Ltd DOI 10.1179/174892310X12827282069062

Energy Materials

2009

VOL

NO

49