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Fatigue Cracking of a 3-MW Electric Motor Shaft

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Abstract

After approximately fifteen months of service, cracking was detected in the journal section of a 3-MW electric motor shaft used to drive a reciprocating gas compressor. A detailed failure analysis revealed sulfide inclusion and quench crack-initiated fatigue cracks. Two crack orientations were observed, axial and angular. The axial cracks are believed to be quench cracks which initiated along sulfide stringers; the angular cracks were found to be high-cycle fatigue cracks emanating from the axial cracks. Recommendations included the use of a reduced sulfur content shaft steel (0.010 wt.% max) and a pre-service non-destructive inspection to detect the presence of quench cracks or other surface imperfections.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA

    S. W. Stafford

  2. Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas of the Permian Basin, 4901 E. University Ave., Odessa, TX, 79762, USA

    L. Trueba Jr.

Authors
  1. S. W. Stafford
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  2. L. Trueba Jr.
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Correspondence to L. Trueba Jr..

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Stafford, S.W., Trueba, L. Fatigue Cracking of a 3-MW Electric Motor Shaft. J Fail. Anal. and Preven. 15, 211–218 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-015-9935-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-015-9935-6

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