P91 steel is an important bearing material used in nuclear power plants. The study of its mechanical degradation behavior is important for ensuring safe operation. The relationship between the dislocation density of P91 steel under different strains and the corresponding nonlinear ultrasonic parameter β was studied. The dislocation density of strained samples was estimated by X-ray diffraction. Nonlinear ultrasonic testing was conducted to evaluate β, showing that this value increased with increasing dislocation density induced by different tensile elongations. It was shown that the ultrasonic second-harmonic generation technique can effectively evaluate the degradation behavior of metallic materials, and the prediction of the residual life of bearing parts in service can be made based on β and the dislocation density.

P91 steel is an important bearing material used in nuclear power plants. The study of its mechanical degradation behavior is important for ensuring safe operation. The relationship between the dislocation density of P91 steel under different strains and the corresponding nonlinear ultrasonic parameter β was studied. The dislocation density of strained samples was estimated by X-ray diffraction. Nonlinear ultrasonic testing was conducted to evaluate β, showing that this value increased with increasing dislocation density induced by different tensile elongations. It was shown that the ultrasonic second-harmonic generation technique can effectively evaluate the degradation behavior of metallic materials, and the prediction of the residual life of bearing parts in service can be made based on β and the dislocation density.