ecss-q-70-37a
ecss-q-70-37a
20 January 1998
EUROPEAN COOPERATION
ECSS
FOR SPACE STANDARDIZATION
Space Product
Assurance
ECSS Secretariat
ESA--ESTEC
Requirements & Standards Division
Noordwijk, The Netherlands
ECSS--Q--70--37A
20 January 1998 ECSS
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ECSS 20 January 1998
Foreword
This standard is one of the series of ECSS Standards intended to be applied to-
gether for the management, engineering and product assurance in space projects
and applications. ECSS is a cooperative effort of the European Space Agency,
National Space Agencies and European industry associations for the purpose of
developing and maintaining common standards.
Requirements in this standard are defined in terms of what must be accom-
plished, rather than in terms of how to organise and perform the necessary work.
This allows existing organisational structures and methods to be applied where
they are effective, and for the structures and methods to evolve as necessary with-
out rewriting the standards.
The formulation of this standard takes into account the existing ISO 9000 family
of documents.
This standard has been prepared by editing ESA PSS--01--737, reviewed by the
ECSS Technical Panel and approved by the ECSS Steering Board.
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Contents list
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1 Scope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2 Normative references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.1 Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.2 Abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5 Preparatory conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
6 Test method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
6.1 Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
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7 Acceptance criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
8 Quality assurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
8.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
8.2 Test report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Figures
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Scope
This document defines the preferred way to determine the susceptibility of metals
and weldments to stress--corrosion cracking by alternate immersion in 3,5 % so-
dium chloride under constant load.
The results obtained from test programmes made according to this specification
are used to classify alloys, weldments and their individual heat treatment condi-
tions. When sufficient stress--corrosion data exists the alloy designations may be
submitted for inclusion into the various tables contained in ECSS--Q--70--36.
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Normative references
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3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of this standard, the definitions given in ECSS--P--001 apply.
The following terms and definitions are specific to this standard and shall be ap-
plied.
Residual strength (see 6.1 e)
Apparent UTS based upon nominal cross-sectional area
3.2 Abbreviations
The following abbreviations are defined and used within this standard.
Abbreviation Meaning
ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials
CLA Centre line average
i.d. inside diameter
o.d. outside diameter
PVC polyvinyl chloride
pH hydrogen--ion concentration
SC Stress--corrosion
UTS Ultimate tensile strength
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General
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Preparatory conditions
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When specimens are to be taken from material less than 12 mm thick, flat speci-
mens of the type shown in Figure 2 shall be used. The specimen is machined to
a thickness of 5 mm giving a cross section of 50 mm2 in the gauge length. The
gauge length requirements shall be as for the machined specimens shown in Fig-
ure 1. The dimensions of the end sections shown in Figure 2 are suitable for use
with 10 mm diameter shackle pins in the tensile test machine and stress--cor-
rosion jigs. They may be altered to suit the test apparatus available but it is essen-
tial that the width of the end section shall be at least 20 mm greater than the di-
ameter of the shackle-pin hole; otherwise failures may occur across the centre line
of the shackle-pin instead of in the gauge length.
The specimens shall be machined to a finish of 0,5 micron CLA or better, the edges
of flat specimens being slightly radiused by careful abrasion with fine silicon car-
bide paper (1 200 grade).
NOTE Polishing papers that contain oxides of iron shall not be used for
this purpose as they can accelerate pitting during exposure of
the specimen to the saline solution.
When short transverse specimens are required, the dimensions shown in Fig-
ure 1 and Figure 2 will usually have to be reduced. This is permissible provided
that the gauge length of the modified specimen is not less than 10 mm. The dimen-
sions shall also provide a minimum length of 10 mm between the gauge length
and threaded portions of turned specimens and a minimum of 10 mm all round
the shackle-pin holes of flat specimens.
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d M D
Æ8 M10 Æ10
S On both ends
Æ8 M12 Æ12
S
0,5
170
Section S/S
A R 1,5 0,5
(Typ.)
d ±0,02
Æ8,5
D ±0,02
23,5
Notes:
Overall geometric tolerances
1. Remove all sharp edges
General dimensions : Js13; js13
2. The specimen should be fully symetric Surface roughness : 1,6 µmm
3. Sample identification by 1 to 9 Cylindricity : 0,01
Letter height is 1,5 and location is marked Symetry : 0,1
Concentricity : 0,03 A
4. Dimensions of drawing in mm and not to scale
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Section A/A
B
S
180
50
140
A A
0,5
10
t
50
20
30
Notes:
Overall geometric tolerances
1. Remove all sharp edges
General dimensions : Js13; js13
2. The specimen should be fully symetric Surface roughness : 1,6 µmm
3. Sample identification by 1 to 9 Flatness : 0,05/100
Number height is 3,5 and location is marked Parallelism : 0,02/100 S and B
Perpendicularity : 0,02 B
4. t; Thickness typically 5 mm. However could vary according Symetry : 0,02
to product thickness and testing device loading capability
5. Dimensions of drawing in mm and not to scale
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Test method
6.1 Procedure
a. Nine flat or turned tensile test specimens as detailed in subclause 5.2 -- “ De-
tails of test specimens” -- are required for the test. Three are used to deter-
mine the initial tensile properties of the material. Three are loaded in tension
to the required stress (see subclause 7.1 -- “Test stress”) in a spring loaded test
jig which provides an axial constant load. Detailed requirements for the test
jigs are given in subclause 5.3 -- “Conditions for test apparatus”. Each stress--
corrosion specimen is surrounded by a cell which is flooded with 3,5 % sodium
chloride for ten minutes in each hour. A timing device is connected to a micro-
switch operated by the displacement of the jig which occurs when the speci-
men breaks.
b. The third set of three specimens is used for unstressed controls. These speci-
mens are supported vertically in individual cells of the same type as those
which surround the stress--corrosion specimens, the cells being flooded with
the same solution and at the same times as the stress--corrosion specimen
cells.
c. The 3,5 % sodium chloride test solution is made to ASTM G44--94 “Standard
Practice for Evaluating Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance of Metals and
Alloys by Alternate Immersion in 3.5% Sodium Chloride Solution”. One litre
of solution is provided for each pair of specimens and is replaced after seven,
fourteen and twenty-one days.
d. When any of the three stress--corrosion specimens fails it is removed from the
test rig, washed with warm water and dried in a stream of warm air. The
corresponding unstressed control specimen is taken out at the same time and
similarly washed and dried. Both are then stored in a desiccator until all
three stress--corrosion specimens have failed or the thirty-day test period has
been completed.
e. When the tests have been completed the unstressed control specimens corre-
sponding to any stress--corrosion specimens that failed during the test should
be tensile tested, according to subclause 6.1 g., h. and i., to determine their
residual strength. Comparison of the residual strength of the unstressed con-
trol with that of the specimens tested initially and with the stress applied in
the stress--corrosion test will indicate to what extent the failure of the stress--
corrosion specimen was due to stress--corrosion cracking and to what extent
it was due to other forms of corrosion occurring independently of applied
stress.
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f. If none of the stress--corrosion specimens fails during the thirty-day test
period two of them, and their corresponding unstressed controls, are tensile
tested and submitted for metallographic examination. If any stress--cor-
rosion cracking has occurred the residual strength of the stress--corrosion
specimens will be less than that of the corresponding unstressed controls.
The third stress--corrosion specimen and its unstressed control are used for
metallographic examination without tensile testing. (see annex A case A).
g. If one of the three stress--corrosion specimens fails during the thirty-day test,
tensile tests are carried out at the end of the test period on the corresponding
unstressed control, on one of the two unfailed stressed specimens and on its
unstressed control. The third stress--corrosion specimen and its unstressed
control are used for metallographic examination without tensile testing (see
annex A case B).
h. If two of the three stress--corrosion specimens fail during the thirty-day test
the remaining unfailed stressed specimen and its unstressed control are used
for metallographic examination without tensile testing. Only the unstressed
control specimens for the stress--corrosion specimens that failed are tensile
tested (see annex A case C).
i. If all three of the stress--corrosion specimens fail during the thirty-day test
they are submitted to metallographic examination. The first two unstressed
control specimens to be withdrawn are tensile tested and then used for metal-
lographic examination. The last unstressed control specimen to be with-
drawn is not to be tensile tested, but will be metallographically examined (see
annex A case D).
j. Axial microsections across the full thickness are prepared from all the stress--
corrosion and unstressed control specimens. From those which failed during
the test, or were broken in subsequent tensile testing, the microsection shall
extend from the fracture surface for a distance of at least 20 mm. For welded
specimens the total length of the microsection shall extend at least 5 mm into
the parent metal beyond the heat affected zone. Two adjacent microsections
may be prepared if necessary to cover this length. For unbroken specimens,
the longitudinal microsection shall extend from one side of the centre of the
gauge length for a distance of at least 10 mm or (for welded specimens) to a
point 5 mm beyond the heat affected zone. The microsections are mounted
and polished for metallographic examination as specified in subclause 7.2.
k. The operations to be carried out during and at the end of the thirty-day test
period shall be set out in tabular form in annex A for examples in which differ-
ent numbers of stress--corrosion specimens fail during the test period.
l. The criteria for assessment of stress--corrosion susceptibility from tests car-
ried out according to this specification shall be set out in subclause 7.3.
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Acceptance criteria
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7.3 Assessment of stress-corrosion susceptibility
The materials tested shall be classified as showing resistance to stress--corrosion;
either:
D high;
D moderate; or
D low.
7.3.1 Class 1
Alloys or weldments show high resistance to stress--corrosion if:
a. none of the three stress--corrosion specimens fails in the thirty-day test. Any
failure is disregarded if the tensile strength of the unstressed control speci-
men removed from test at the time of failure of the stress--corrosion specimen
does not exceed the stress--corrosion test stress; and
b. the average tensile strength of two of the three stress--corrosion specimens
after the thirty-day test is not less than 90 % of that of the unstressed control
specimens; and
c. none of the three stress--corrosion specimens shows evidence of stress--cor-
rosion on metallographic examination at X50 magnification.
7.3.2 Class 2
Alloys or weldments show moderate resistance to stress--corrosion if:
a. none of the three stress--corrosion specimens fails in the thirty-day test. Any
failure is disregarded if the tensile strength of the unstressed control speci-
men removed from test at the time of failure of the stress--corrosion specimen
does not exceed the stress--corrosion test stress; and
b. the average tensile strength of the two stress--corrosion specimens after the
thirty-day test is not less than 90 % of that of the unstressed control speci-
mens; and
c. metallographic examination at X50 magnification shows evidence of stress--
corrosion in any of the three stress--corrosion specimens.
7.3.3 Class 3
Alloys or weldments show low resistance to stress--corrosion if:
a. any of the three stress--corrosion specimens fails in the thirty-day test at a
test stress below the tensile strength of the unstressed control specimen re-
moved from test when the stress--corrosion specimen fails; and
b. the average tensile strength of the stress--corrosion specimens after the
thirty-day test is less than 90 % of that of the unstressed control specimens;
and
c. metallographic examination at X50 magnification shows evidence of stress--
corrosion.
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Quality assurance
8.1 General
The measurement and test equipment used shall be calibrated using standards
traceable to national standards and used in an environment controlled to an ex-
tent to ensure valid measurements. Any nonconformance on equipment, material
or test specimen shall be recorded and reported in the test report.
8.2.1 Material
D material specification, form, actual composition and condition (e.g. grain
orientation, heat treatment);
D material identification code (e.g. manufacturers’ batch number);
D for welded material, details of weld process, filler metal composition and
post-weld heat treatment or natural ageing period are also required.
8.2.2 Specimens
D type;
D dimensions;
D grain size; and
D grain orientation.
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8.2.4 Results
D Lives of stress--corrosion specimens;
D 0,2 % proof stress and tensile strength of all specimens subjected to tensile
testing;
D Metallographic observations for the:
S stress--corrosion specimens; and
S unstressed control specimens.
8.2.5 Assessment
Classification of material tested as showing high, moderate or low resistance to
stress--corrosion.
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Annex A (normative)
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Annex B (informative)
A--A--
B--B--
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7. The compression spring shall be selected to suit the load that is to be ap-
plied to the test specimen. For testing high and medium strength alumin-
ium alloy specimens of the dimension shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2,
springs with ten turns of 15 mm diameter steel having a total free length
of 150 mm and an outside diameter of 105 mm have proved satisfactory.
These springs produce a load of 20 kg for each 10 mm of compression and
require a compression of about 50 mm to provide a typical desired load.
8. A tensile test machine is used to plot a calibration curve of load against
compression for each spring. The calibration curves are used to calculate
the compression required to apply the desired load to the test specimen.
Centre punch marks are made on the top and bottom turns of the spring
and the compression measured by locating the points of a pair of dividers
in these marks.
9. The test specimen is surrounded by an alternate immersion cell details
of which are given in step 14 to 16.
10. To use the stress--corrosion test jig the parts are assembled with the ex-
ception of the top and bottom inner shackle. The specimen is fitted to the
shackles and the alternate immersion test cell fixed in place. If flat speci-
mens are used the part of the lower shackle which comes within the cell
is coated with a suitable sealant (Warning: avoid sealants which may
produce corrosive chemical species during curing, e.g. acetic curing sili-
cones). The specimen, with the inner shackles and alternate immersion
cell in place, is fitted into the test rig and located by inserting the pins
which secure the inner shackles to the outer shackles. The tensioning nut
is screwed down to take up the slack and a check is made to see that all
the parts of the jig are correctly positioned so that the specimen will be
under axial load when the spring is compressed.
11. The specimen is loaded to the required stress by compressing the spring
to the appropriate length measured between the centre punch marks
upon it. This may be done by holding the top closure plate by means of a
peg spanner fitted into holes drilled in the plate for that purpose and
screwing down the tensioning nut against the thrust race. It is more con-
venient however to use a simple hydraulic jack type of loading device act-
ing between the bottom closure plate and the spring end plate to compress
the spring to the desired extent and then screw down the tensioning nut
to retain the spring in that position when the loading device is removed.
After loading the specimen the nuts on the restraining hook bolts are
screwed down finger tight.
12. After loading, the jig is suspended vertically by passing the upper part of
the 500 mm length of 20 mm studding through a hole in a suitable frame
as shown in Figure B--2 and fitting a nut above the suspension plate of the
frame. The frame incorporates a tray which is situated about 10 mm
below the bottom closure plate of the stress--corrosion jig and has a central
hole through which the lower securing nut of the jig passes freely. A
microswitch is attached to the tray so that this movement will alter the
switch condition when the specimen breaks and the bottom closure plate
drops. The microswitch is connected to an electrical timer which is started
at the commencement of the thirty-day test period and stops automati-
cally when the specimen breaks, thus recording its life.
13. The stress--corrosion tests are carried out in triplicate -- three similar un-
stressed control specimens being tested at the same time. The unstressed
controls are supported vertically in spare inner shackles similar to those
used in the stress--corrosion jigs and are surrounded by similar alternate
immersion cells, but their top ends are free.
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14. The alternate immersion cell comprises a transparent rigid plastic tube
60 mm i.d. fitted into a moulded PVC lower end cap which forms a seal
onto the lower, plain end-portion of the specimen if threaded-end speci-
mens are used. If flat specimens are used it is difficult to get a satisfactory
seal on the specimen itself; the seal is then made on the inner shackle. The
parts of the shackle within the PVC end cap and the gap between the end
of the specimen and the slot in the shackle shall then be sealed with a suit-
able compound.
15. A 5 mm diameter tube moulded into the bottom of the end cap is connected
to a flask containing 1 l of 3,5 % sodium chloride the pH of which is ad-
justed to between 6,4 and 7,2 as specified in ASTM G44--94 “Standard
Practice for Evaluating Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance of Metals
and Alloys by Alternate Immersion in 3.5% Sodium Chloride Solution”.
Each flask serves two specimens, a stress--corrosion specimen and its un-
stressed control.
16. A pneumatic device operated by an electrical timer pressurizes the flask
at fixed intervals causing the sodium chloride solution to flood into the
cells surrounding the stressed and unstressed specimens for ten minutes
in each hour. The maximum liquid level in the cell is set to come above the
gauge length but below the bottom of the top inner shackle.
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500 mm x 20 mm studding
Tensioning nut
Thrust race
Cross piece
Spring end plate
Compression spring
Retaining hook bolt
Specimen shackles
Tubular frame
Specimen shackles
for flat specimens
125 mm x 20 mm studding
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Support plate
Loaded SC jig
Microswitch
Lower tray
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6. Originator of recommendation
Name: Organization:
Address: Phone: 7. Date of Submission:
Fax:
E--Mail:
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