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Evaluation of J-groove weld residual stress and crack growth rate of PWSCC in reactor pressure vessel closure head

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Abstract

Over the last decade, primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) has been frequently found in pressurized water reactor (PWR) applications. Especially, PWSCC has occurred in long-term operated PWRs. As this phenomenon leads to serious accidents, we must be beforehand with the anticipated problems. A typical PWR consists of J-groove welded components such as reactor pressure vessel closure head and nozzles. Reactor pressure vessel closure head is made of SA508 and it is covered by cladding. Alloy 600 is used for nozzles. And J-groove weld is conducted with alloy 82/182. Different material properties of these metals lead to residual stress and PWSCC consequentially. In this study, J-groove weld residual stress was investigated by a three-dimensional finite element analysis with an actual asymmetric J-groove weld model and process of construction. Also crack growth rate of PWSCC was evaluated from cracks applied on the penetration nozzles. Based on these two values, one cannot only improve the structural integrity of PWR, but also explain PWSCC behavior such that high residual stress at the J-groove weld area causes crack initiation and propagation through the surface of nozzles. In addition, crack behavior was predicted at the various points around the nozzle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 440-746, Korea

    Seung Hyuk Oh, Tae Young Ryu, Seung Hyun Park, Min Gu Won, Seok Jun Kang, Moon Ki Kim & Jae Boong Choi

  2. Central Research Institute, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, Daejeon, 305-343, Korea

    Kyoung Soo Lee & Sung Ho Lee

  3. SKKU Advanced Institute of Nanotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 440-746, Korea

    Moon Ki Kim & Jae Boong Choi

Authors
  1. Seung Hyuk Oh
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  2. Tae Young Ryu
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  3. Seung Hyun Park
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  4. Min Gu Won
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  5. Seok Jun Kang
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  6. Kyoung Soo Lee
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  7. Sung Ho Lee
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  8. Moon Ki Kim
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  9. Jae Boong Choi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jae Boong Choi.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Hyung Yil Lee

Seung-Hyuk Oh received his B.S. degree in the School of Electronical Engineering from Korea Polytechnic University, Korea, in 2012. And he received his M.S. degree in the school of Mechanical Engineering from Sungkyunkwan University, Korea, in 2014. Mr. Oh is currently a graduate student at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University. His research interests include fracture mechanics and computer added engineering.

Jae-Boong Choi received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in the school of Mechanical Engineering from Sungkyunkwan University, Korea, in 1987 and 1989, respectively. And he received his Ph.D. from University of Waterloo, Canada, in 1997. Dr. Choi is currently a Professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University. Dr. Choi’s research interests include mechanical engineering design, fracture mechanics, and computer aided engineering.

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Oh, S.H., Ryu, T.Y., Park, S.H. et al. Evaluation of J-groove weld residual stress and crack growth rate of PWSCC in reactor pressure vessel closure head. J Mech Sci Technol 29, 1225–1230 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-0236-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-0236-5

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