Themovingbeamsofskidpipesinwalkingbeamfurnaceofaplatemillinanintegratedsteelplantwerefailingfrequentlyinthe heatingandsoakingzoneoffurnace,particularlyatlocationsunderthehearthlevelandbelowtheretainerringofthemovingbeam asshowninFigs.1and2.Asperthesupplier’sdesign,theskidpipesaremadeofS355J0gradeseamlesssteelpipeofEN10025 specificationTherupturedregionofthemovingbeambelowtheretainerring(Fig.2(a))wasremovedbygascutting(Fig.2(b)and (c)),whichwasfinallycutalongthelongitudinaldirectionintoabout25mm×25mmsizeusingahorizontalbandsawdiscarding theheataffectedzone.Further,theunaffectedregionatabout2feetabovetheretainerringwasalsocutforanalysis.