Mechanical properties and texture of tube material formed in the process of tube production were studied. Texture in tubes was estimated by contractile strain ratio (CSR) according to requirements of the standard for tubes. Mechanical properties depend on CSR. Optimal values of mechanical properties were determined: ultimate strength, yield strength and relative elongation which provide CSR values within 1.3...3.5. The texture was evaluated in the process of tube manufacture. An increase in radial component of the texture leads to an increase in CSR. At high CSR values up to 3-3.5, tubes often do not withstand process tests for flattening and bending. Correction of CSR values is required. It was shown that an increase in ductility of tubes increases the value of CSR.

A possibility was considered concerning estimation of grain anisomery in the structure of fuel cladding tubes of corrosion-resistant 026Cr16Ni15Mo3Nb steel of austenitic class rolled according to two flow charts: regular and intensive technologies using fractal formalism. Role of grain boundary hardening during cold plastic deformation was analyzed by studying the effect of the fractal dimension of grains D and their boundaries Dg on 0.2, w, and 5. The best correlation among those that were considered was observed between relative elongation and fractal dimensions of the grain structure (R2 = 0.90). The smallest correlation was observed with the yield stress (R2 = 0.64). It is because of variation of plastic flow processes towards a decrease in the degree of hardening in the material rolled according to the intensive technology. Cold deformation results in refining of the average grain size from 15.50 to 15.42 µm. In this case, extent of the grain boundary length L increased by 17.62% at an iteration step  commensurate with the average grain size which is indicated by a change in the fractal dimension according to L ~ δ1-D. Degree of the grain structure inhomogeneity was estimated using ratios of self-similarity of regions of fractal dimensions of the structure. The obtained results on the level of mechanical properties of fuel cladding tubes made of austenitic steel indicate advantage of the intensive technology over regular one that was confirmed by results of fractal modeling.

Texture formation processes at all technological stages of tube manufacture were considered. It has been established that at the stage of hot deformation and manufacture of TREX tubes, tangential and radial textures are formed, a large share of tangential component of the texture. Influence of main factors of the technological process on formation of texture and properties was established. Conditions for formation of a maximum amount of radial texture in tubes which ensure improvement of service properties of tubes were determined. To create maximum amount of radial texture in tubes, total reduction rate in passes and the wall to diameter reduction ratio (factor Q) are important. The reduction rate should be increased, especially in the last passes, to 75…85%. Heat treatment (stress relief annealing) practically does not change the tube texture.

During production, operation, transportation, and aging of finished products, stresses occur in the pipe metal. As a rule, these residual stresses affect the quality of pipes. The presence of residual stresses in products can cause brittle fracture, cracking due to corrosion, reduced elasticity, warping, etc. The development of methods for managing residual stresses in metals and products is the realization of a powerful reserve for improving the quality of metal products, which means increasing the reliability of machinery. The question arises as to which method, convenient in production conditions, should be used to assess residual stresses. A simple and affordable method for estimating residual stresses is needed in production conditions. This paper presents a simplified method for estimating residual stresses in pipes. The purpose of the work is to improve and present a methodology for estimating tangential and axial residual stresses in cold-formed pipes and tubes after heat treatment according to the method of M.M. Davydenko. Research methods: M.M. Davydenko's method for cutting rings and cutting strips from pipes. Calculation of residual stresses. Results. The method for estimation of tangential and axial residual stresses in pipes after cold deformation and after heat treatment is improved and presented. The formulas for calculating residual stresses are given. Practical value. Pipe plants need to estimate residual stresses to develop technological processes for the manufacture of new types of pipes and to meet pipe standards. The improved and presented methodology will help manufacturers in assessing residual stresses. Conclusions. Modern methods for assessing residual stresses have been considered. A methodology for calculating tangential and axial residual stresses according to M.M. Davydenko by cutting rings and cutting strips from the metal of the studied pipes is presented. The methodology is officially registered, which allows it to be used for official assessment of pipe quality.

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