This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: A472/A472M − 07 (Reapproved 2022)

Standard Specification for

Heat Stability of Steam Turbine Shafts and Rotor Forgings1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A472/A472M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 2.1.1 ASTM designation and year date,

1.1 This specification covers the determination of heat 2.1.2 The minimum test temperature,
stability of steam turbine shafts and rotor forgings to ensure 2.1.3 The portion of the forging to be subjected to the heat
stability at operating temperature. This specification is not stability test temperature, and
ordinarily applicable to generator rotor forgings. 2.1.4 Supplementary or other special requirements.
1.2 This specification is expressed in both inch-pound units 3. Procedure
and in SI units; however, unless the purchase order or contract
specifies the applicable M specification designation (SI units), 3.1 The heat stability test shall be conducted by the forging
the inch-pound units shall apply. The values stated in either supplier after final heat treatment and after the forging has been
inch-pound units or SI units are to be regarded separately as centered and machined with allowance to finish to the purchas-
standard. Within the specification, the SI units are shown in er’s drawing. Material for mechanical tests may be removed
brackets. The values stated in each system are not necessarily before or after the stability test at the manufacturer’s option,
exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the unless check tests after the stability test are required by the
standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, purchaser.
and values from the two systems shall not be combined. 3.2 With prior approval from the purchaser, the forgings
1.3 Supplementary requirements of an optional nature are may be stress-relieved as part of the heat stability test. When
provided for use at the option of the purchaser. The supple- this is done, the stress-relieving temperature shall be within
mentary requirements shall apply only when specified indi- 50 °F to 100 °F [30 °C to 55 °C] below final tempering
vidually by the purchaser in the purchase order or contract. temperature. Rotate the forgings at 2 r ⁄min to 4 r/min and hold
at stress-relieving temperature for at least 2 h/in. [2 h/25 mm]
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
of maximum radial thickness, after which the temperature may
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
be decreased to the specified heat stability test temperature and
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
the test performed.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4. Heat Stability Test Bands
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 4.1 The supplier shall mark positions A, B, C, and D, spaced
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the 90° apart circumferentially, preferably on an end of the forging.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- Markings shall be retained throughout all subsequent opera-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical tions.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. 4.2 Preferably, there shall be a minimum of 5 test bands,
denoted as 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, machined on the circumference of
2. Ordering Information the forging. Numbering shall start at the left side of the forging
2.1 It shall be the responsibility of the purchaser to specify drawing. Bands 1 and 5 shall be located as close to the end of
all requirements necessary for testing under this specification. the forging as practical. Band 3 shall be located as near to
Requirements to be considered include, but are not limited to, midlength as practical. Bands 2 and 4 shall be located
the following: approximately equidistant between 1 and 3, and 3 and 5,
respectively.
1
4.3 When the shipped length of the barrel portion of the
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee forging is less than 8 ft [2.4 m], bands 2 and 4 may be omitted.
A01.06 on Steel Forgings and Billets.
Current edition approved March 1, 2022. Published March 2022. Originally
4.4 The purchaser’s drawing may show the desired number
approved in 1962. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as A472/ and location of bands and shall indicate that portion of the
A472M – 07(2017). DOI: 10.1520/A0472_A0472M-07R22. forging that shall be located within the heating chamber. Bands

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

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 A472/A472M − 07 (2022)
1 and 5 are to be located outside of the heating chamber. 7.2 First Cold Measurements—Take measurements on each
Preferably, the gland areas/packing seal areas are inside the band after rotation is started but prior to heating. If the runout
heating chamber. exceeds 0.002 in. [0.05 mm] at any band, continue rotation for
4.5 The test bands shall be machined with the forging 1 h. If runout continues to exceed 0.002 in. [0.05 mm], recenter
running on centers except in the cases of forgings weighing the forging or remachine the bands until the runout does not
over 125 000 lb [56.7 metric tons] the machining shall be exceed 0.002 in. [0.05 mm] in any band. Refer to the last
performed with the forgings running on steady rests. Readings measurements as the official first cold measurements.
shall be taken with the forging running on centers except in the 7.3 Hot Measurements—Take measurements on all bands
cases of forgings weighing over 125 000 lb [56.7 metric tons] hourly during the heating cycle until the forging has been
where readings may be taken with the forgings running on heated to the specified temperature. When three consecutive
steady rests. Between readings, the forgings may be rotated on hourly deflection measurements at the specified temperature
steady rests. check within 0.0005 in. [0.013 mm], cooling may commence.
Refer to the last of these measurements as the official hot
5. Surface Preparation measurements.
5.1 Remove oil, grease, dirt, and other foreign material from 7.4 Second Cold Measurements—After cooling in accor-
the surface of the forging prior to the heat stability test. A dance with 6.4, take measurements on all bands at half-hour
suitable coating may be applied to provide uniform emissivity. intervals until two consecutive deflection measurements check
6. Heating and Cooling within 0.0005 in. [0.013 mm]. Refer to the last of these
measurements as the official second cold measurements.
6.1 Place the forging in the heating chamber and rotate the
forging at a speed of 2 r ⁄min to 4 r/min. 8. Interpretation of Results
6.2 Place thermocouples in contact with the forging at each 8.1 The forging shall be acceptable if the movement of its
test band within the heating chamber. Shield the thermocouples center is not greater than 0.001 in. [0.025 mm] when deter-
from the heat source. mined by the difference between the official hot and the official
6.3 Apply heat uniformly to avoid localized overheating. cold second measurements. This movement shall be deter-
Heat the forging at a rate not exceeding 200 °F ⁄h [110 °C ⁄h] to mined for each band as follows:
the stability test temperature specified by the purchaser. Main- 8.1.1 From the official hot measurements at position A
tain the specified testing temperature until the forging is heated subtract the official cold measurement for position A.
uniformly. A uniform temperature condition shall be consid- 8.1.2 Repeat the procedure for positions B, C, and D.
ered to exist when three consecutive hourly deflection mea- 8.1.3 For each of these four results, numerically total the
surements taken at the test temperature are within 0.0005 in. greatest plus value and the greatest minus value without regard
[0.013 mm]. To consider a uniform test temperature condition to sign. The maximum deflection in any band as indicated by
to exist, it is also necessary that the axial thermal expansion be these totals shall not exceed 0.002 in. [0.05 mm].
consistent within 0.010 in. [0.25 mm] for three consecutive 8.2 In case of changes in measurements in bands 1 and 5,
hourly readings at the test temperature. suitable corrections may be made to results obtained from
6.4 After uniform test conditions as described in 6.3 have bands 2, 3, and 4. The corrected figures shall be within the
been reached, cool the forging, while rotating, to below 100 °F requirements of 8.1.3.
[40 °C]. The heating chamber may be opened during cooling, 8.3 If the forging does not meet the requirements of the
but the cover shall not be removed until the temperature of the stability test, it may be retested, stress relieved before retest or
forging is less than 500 °F [260 °C]. After the forging has completely reheat treated before retest.
cooled to approximately room temperature, rotate it for at least
2 h before the second cold measurements (see 7.4) are 9. Report
recorded.
9.1 The forging supplier shall report to the purchaser the
7. Stability Measurements official first cold measurements, the hourly measurements
7.1 Use an indicator located outside the heating chamber to during heating and holding at specified temperature, the official
measure to the nearest 0.0005 in. [0.013 mm]. Actuate the hot measurements and the official second cold measurements,
indicator by a rod with one end contacting the forging at test as well as the temperature of the forging when these measure-
bands described in 4.2 or 4.3. Take measurements at each test ments were obtained. The report shall include the calculated
band at positions A, B, C, and D. For each band, the indicator change in measurements as determined under 8.1.3.
may be set to zero for the minimum deflection at one of the
positions A, B, C, or D or the figures may be reduced to 10. Keywords
minima by subtraction. 10.1 emissivity; heat stability; rotor forgings; steam turbines

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 A472/A472M − 07 (2022)
SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

The following supplementary requirements shall only apply when specified individually by the
purchaser in the contract or purchase order.

S1. Emissivity Coating

S1.1 Apply a surface coating that will provide a uniform
thermal emissivity throughout the test. The coating shall be
uniform and completely cover all surfaces within and adjacent
to the ovens. Successive light coats applied by spraying are
recommended.

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. RESULTS DISCUSSION

X1.1 This specification determines whether a forging will these rotors will normally be stable during a subsequent test),
be stable at elevated temperatures and sets go/no go limits for non-uniform heat treatment, and machining off the forging
acceptance. Instability is typically caused by one of several centerline. Rotors that do not meet the go/no go limits are
factors including non-uniform emissivity (see Supplementary considered unstable and are normally subject to further review,
Requirement S1) or relief of residual stresses (in both cases retested, or even re-heat treated and retested.

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