Fatigue Evaluation Under Continuous Strain Rate Changing Condition of Carbon Steel in BWR Environment

Abstract

Fatigue evaluation methods have been proposed based on environmental fatigue test results regarding parameters selected for simulating Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) and Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) conditions. The effects of strain wave form have been discussed by comparing experimental fatigue life with predicted fatigue life evaluated by modified rate approach (MRA) method. The applicability of the MRA method has been verified extensively by the environmental fatigue tests with strain rate changing conditions consisting of combined constant strain rates. However, different results have been obtained for a sine strain wave in simulated BWR and PWR conditions. More study for evaluating the applicability of MRA method was required by evaluating with continuous strain rate conditions such as a sine wave. For the purpose of verification, two approaches were applied. One is performing the environmental fatigue tests with the sine strain wave in simulated BWR condition. The other is to evaluate the low cycle thermal fatigue test performed in simulated BWR condition because the wave form of this test contains continuous strain rate changing condition. MRA method was indicated to be applicable to predict fatigue lives under these kinds of continuous strain rate changing conditions. All of the studies including this study verifying the applicability of the MRA method were performed with small specimens having the well polished surfaces in the gage length. These results indicate that the evaluation by the MRA method includes the synergistic effect between the water environment and the transient. However, the synergistic effects with the surface roughness and the component size are not known. Design margin derived by the multiplication of the sub-factors of environment, surface roughness and component size may be conservative. The evaluation of the conservatism is considered to be beneficial.