Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to integrated circuit devices with wear out monitoring capability. An integrated circuit device includes a wear-out monitor device configured to record an indication of wear-out of a core circuit separated from the wear-out monitor device, wherein the indication is associated with localized diffusion of a diffusant within the wear-out monitor device in response to a wear-out stress that causes the wear-out of the core circuit.

Abstract: A heat treatment process is provided that produces a monoblock, low alloy steel rotor for use in low pressure steam turbines. The process includes austenitizing the rotor at a substantially uniformly applied treatment temperature of about 840° C., quenching the rotor, and then differentially tempering the rotor at different axial locations. The rotor is tempered in a furnace divided into regions by refractory boards enabling different temperatures in each divided region to be maintained. A higher than normal strength condition is achieved in one or more axial locations along the rotor by subjecting the location(s) to a lower tempering temperature. The axial location(s) being tempered at lower temperature approximate those locations less susceptible to stress corrosion cracking whereby increased strength is provided the rotor without increasing net susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking.

Abstract: A resistance temperature detector (RTD) unit includes an RTD assembly that is removably supported in a central chamber of a support assembly. In a preferred arrangement, the RTD assembly and the central chamber are arc shaped to facilitate removal from the support assembly and to maintain contact surface area. By providing a removable RTD assembly, costs are reduced over current RTD assemblies including two monitoring elements, and the RTD elements can be replaced without dismantling the top bar connections.

Abstract: A method of creating a brazed joint between a plurality of solid and hollow strands of a stator bar and a stator bar end fitting comprising the steps of:a) inserting between free ends of the plurality of solid and hollow strands a preformed braze alloy such that the braze alloy is at least flush with the free ends of the hollow and solid strands;b) applying stop off material to free end edges of at least the hollow strands;c) inserting the solid and hollow strands and preformed braze alloy in an opening of a stator bar end fitting;d) heating the braze alloy to cause the braze alloy to flow about and between the solid and hollow strands and between the fitting and the solid and hollow strands, but wherein the stop off material prevents flow of braze alloy onto the free end edges of the hollow strands.

Abstract: A threaded fastener and a method by which the fastener exhibits sufficiently enhanced fatigue strength so as to be suitable for use in gas compressors and turbines operating at relatively high service temperatures. The method entails a selective heat treatment to achieve a dramatic improvement in fatigue properties while not interfering with other required properties for the fastener. The heat treatment process preferentially develops a case-hardened region in those threads nearest a transition region between the threads and an unthreaded portion of the fastener. In contrast, the unthreaded portion and the threads furthest from the transition region need not be case-hardened. The hardening pattern in the threads yields a martensitic steel fastener that exhibits fatigue properties which are dramatically superior to otherwise identical fasteners.