Creep failure of a spray drier

Abstract

NDT, design calculations and metallurgical analysis were performed on specimens from a collapsed spray drier. Failure modes initially regarded as possible were: corrosion leading to reduced sections and loss of strength, fatigue and fracture, and creep. The calculations pointed to creep, and no positive metallurgic or physical evidence was discovered to support any of the hypotheses. However, the compression stresses implied that creep deformation could have occurred without inducing discernible creep damage. It was concluded that buckling and collapse of the structure was due to excessive creep deformation.