Analytical Evaluation of Weld Residual Stress Distribution for BWR Pipings

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SCC (stress corrosion cracking) of low-carbon stainless steel piping has been found in Japanese BWR plants since 2002. According to JSME Fitness-for-Service Code, flaw evaluations are required to verify the life-time of piping if SCC is detected. In order to evaluate the SCC propagation behavior, it is necessary to obtain the residual stress distribution through the thickness of piping. In this study, the mock-up PLR (Primary Loop Recirculation system) piping weld joints made of L-grade Type 316 stainless steel with 300 mm and 600 mm diameter were fabricated and residual stress analyses were performed in order to obtain stress distributions. Material properties (specific heat, thermal conductivity, Young’s modulus, stress-strain curve, etc.) were obtained and temperature history during welding and weld residual stress were measured using these mock-ups. Material properties were used in the heat transfer and stress analyses. Measured temperature history and residual stress were compared with the results of heat transfer and stress analyses, respectively. Residual stress analysis of the pipe weld joint is commonly performed using axisymmetric element. In some cases of the combination of pipe diameter and thickness, residual stress obtained by the conventional method might differ from the experimental result owing to the difference of heating and constraint conditions between the axisymmetric model and the actual condition. In order to obtain more precise results, heat transfer and stress analyses were performed, taking into account the adjustment of the boundary condition in the weld passes of the last layer and the constraint condition using a spring element, respectively. On the outer and inner surfaces, almost the same residual stress distributions were obtained for the FEM analysis and the measurement. The residual stress distributions for PLR piping with different diameters, thicknesses, welding processes and groove angles were obtained by FEM analysis. Based on the results of the analyses, the influences of these parameters on residual stress were evaluated.