The behavior of structural steels subjected to short-time loadings at elevated temperatures is usually determined from short-time tension tests. In general, the stress-strain curve becomes more rounded and the yield strength and tensile strength are reduced as temperatures are increased. The ratios of the elevated-temperature value to room-temperature value of yield and tensile strengths of several structural steels are shown in Fig. 1.9a and b, respectively.
Modulus of elasticity decreases with increasing temperature, as shown in Fig. 1.9c. The relationship shown is nearly the same for all structural steels. The variation in shear modulus with temperature is similar to that shown for the modulus of elasticity. But Poissons ratio does not vary over this temperature range.
The following expressions for elevated-temperature property ratios, which were derived by fitting curves to short-time data, have proven useful in analytical modeling (R. L. Brockenbrough, Theoretical Stresses and Strains from Heat Curving, Journal of the Structural Division, American Society of Civil Engineers, Vol. 96, No. ST7, 1970):
In these equations Fy / F’y and E/E’ are the ratios of elevated-temperature to room-temperature Fy yield strength and modulus of elasticity, respectively, is the coefficient of thermal expansion per degree Fahrenheit, and T is the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
Ductility of structural steels, as indicated by elongation and reduction-of-area values, decreases with increasing temperature until a minimum value is reached. Thereafter, ductility increases to a value much greater than that at room temperature. The exact effect depends on the type and thickness of steel. The initial decrease in ductility is caused by strain aging and is most pronounced in the temperature range of 300 to 700F. Strain aging also accounts for the increase in tensile strength in this temperature range shown for two of the steels in Fig. 1.9b.
Under long-time loadings at elevated temperatures, the effects of creep must be considered.
When a load is applied to a specimen at an elevated temperature, the specimen deforms rapidly at first but then continues to deform, or creep, at a much slower rate. A schematic creep curve for a steel subjected to a constant tensile load and at a constant elevated temperature is shown in Fig. 1.10. The initial elongation occurs almost instantaneously and is followed by three stages. In stage 1 elongation increases at a decreasing rate. In stage 2, elongation increases at a nearly constant rate. And in stage 3, elongation increases at an increasing rate. The failure, or creep-rupture, load is less than the load that would cause failure at that temperature in a short-time loading test.
Table 1.9 indicates typical creep and rupture data for a carbon steel, an HSLA steel, and a constructional alloy steel. The table gives the stress that will cause a given amount of creep in a given time at a particular temperature.
For special elevated-temperature applications in which structural steels do not provide adequate properties, special alloy and stainless steels with excellent high-temperature properties are available.
