Fracture analysis of the circulating pump bolts

The microstructure, micrograph of the fracture sections and the alloy elements distribution of the fractured flange-connecting bolts of 3# circulating pump in a power plant were analyzed by the scanning electron microscopy, the optical microscopy and the electron probe microanalysis. The results showed that the failed bolts’ material is not the design material, and failure of the bolts is due to the stress corrosion crack propagation of the bolts’ austenitic material by chloride ions in seawater.