Tensile and Fatigue Strengths of STS304L for LNG Membrane Storage Tank

STS304L of membrane structure has been used for a LNG storage tank and has exposed long time under the cryogenic temperature. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the mechanical properties of base and used materials for STS304L of membrane. The tensile and high cycle fatigue tests were investigated for STS304L of membrane used over 20 years at room temperature and -162°C. In addition, the test of base STS304L was performed in order to compare with used material properties. The chemical composition and phase change were investigated from EDS and XRD. From results of tensile test, yield and ultimate tensile strengths of used STS304L are smaller than those of base STS304L. S-N curves were obtained from fatigue tests at both temperatures. Also, P-S-N curves were presented with statistical method recommend by JSME-S002. Fractography was conducted for analysis of fracture mechanisms.