Exploring the applicability of the LICON methodology for the creep assessment of a dissimilar metal weld

• LICON predicts long term uniaxial creep strength from short term multiaxial tests.
• Successful application of the method for 9% and 1%Cr steels has already been reported.
• This study examined applicability of the method to a DMW (1CrMoV–Alloy 617–Alloy 625).
• New developments have been proposed for LICON formulation to be applied for DMWs.
• Developed formulation could successfully predict DMW long term uniaxial creep strength.

The LICON methodology is an approach for predicting the lifetime of materials under creep loading conditions. The LICON method predicts long-time uniaxial creep strength using the results from several short duration creep crack incubation (CCI) tests in conjunction with the outcome of a mechanical analysis for the adopted multiaxial specimen geometry. The applicability of the methodology for long term creep strength prediction of martensitic 9%Cr and bainitic 1%Cr steels has already been demonstrated. This study has examined the applicability of the procedure for predicting long term uniaxial creep strengths for a dissimilar metal weld (DMW). It has required new developments to the original formulation. Application of the developed formulation for predicting uniaxial creep rupture behaviour of the investigated DMW shows an acceptable agreement with experimental observations which was not previously achievable.