To determine the microstructural condition and assess material fatigue, metallographic microstructural analyses are performed on power plant components that have been operated in the creep range for long periods of time. Real microstructural images, which are part of this vgbe-Standard, assist in the determination and evaluation. This vgbe-Standard summarises existing documentation, information and findings.

In this fourth edition, the optional assessment of creep damage based on porosity determination for martensitic 9%–12% Cr steels has been added.

The assessment classes for base materials have been adapted to the latest findings in damage assessment, and the illustration appendix has been supplemented and updated with current high-quality illustrations.

Helpful additions for users, such as a correlation table of relative creep life consumption as a function of porosity, including reference values and typically used etching agents, have been included.

Furthermore, examples of the interaction and differentiation between creep damage and relaxation crack formation have been added.

VGBE-S-517-00-2024-11-EN (4th Edition, replaces VGB-S-517-00-2014-11-DE-EN): Richtreihen zur Bewertung der Gefügeausbildung und Zeitstandschädigung warmfester Stähle für Hochdruckrohrleitungen und Kesselbauteile und deren Schweißverbindungen. 194 p., 141 fig., 5 tab. (2025), vgbe energy e.V. and vgbe energy service GmbH, Essen, Germany
This vgbe-Standard is available in German and English. / Dieser vgbe-Standard liegt in Deutscher und Englischer Sprache vor.  
ISBN 978-3-96284-384-7 (print, English)
ISBN 978-3-96284-385-4 (e-book, English)
ISBN 978-3-96284-382-3 (print, German)
ISBN 978-3-96284-383-0 (e-book, German)