Material Characteristics That Have the Greatest Influence on the Survival of Refractory Anchorage Systems
by Paul Plater, Graham Quigley*
RefMet, PO Box 126, Prahan, Victoria, 3181
* Dynamic Structures, 19 Carlyle St, Moonee Ponds, Victoria, 3039
Abstract The fracture of refractory anchorage components is a recurring theme when furnace systems are repaired and replaced. It is often difficult for furnace operators to understand why the components fail. Considerations such as:
• Insufficient expansion/contraction allowance in the design of the anchorages.
• Local anchorage failures inducing excessive stress in adjacent anchors.
• Poor material selection has resulted in a low strength at elevated temperature.
• The presence of high temperature metallurgical phases that are brittle at lower temperatures causing brittle failure during thermal cycling.
• Anchorage component designs that introduce stress concentrations.
• Anchorage component manufacture that introduce stress concentrations.
• Anchorage component installation practices that induce unnecessary stresses in the components.
• Use of temporary weldments to hold anchorages in place during installation operations. These welds dramatically change the material responses of components that may otherwise be well designed and manufactured.
• Setting of specifications for design, manufacture and installation, and the diligence required to ensure compliance are equally critical to any of the physical parameters noted above.
The purpose of this paper is to consolidate the ideas associated with the above material items into a useful design tool that is accessible to all designers and the operators of refractory lined furnace systems.
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