French RSE-M and RCC-MR code appendices for flaw analysis: Presentation of the fracture parameters calculation—Part III: Cracked pipes

Abstract

French nuclear codes include flaw assessment procedures: the RSE-M Code “Rules for In-service Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components” and the RCC-MR code “Design and Construction rules for mechanical components of FBR nuclear islands and high-temperature applications”. An important effort of development of these analytical methods has been made for the last 10 years in the frame of collaboration between CEA, EDF and AREVA-NP, and in the frame of R&D actions involving CEA and IRSN. These activities have led to a unification of the common methods of the two codes. The calculation of fracture mechanics parameters, and in particular the stress-intensity factor K I and the J integral, has been widely developed for industrial configurations. All the developments have been integrated in the 2005 edition of the RSE-M and in the 2007 edition of the RCC-MR. This series of articles is composed of 5 parts: the first part presents an overview of the methods proposed in the RCC-MR and RSE-M codes. Parts II–IV provide compendia for specific components. The geometries are plates (part II), pipes (part III) and elbows (part IV). Part V presents validation, with details on the accuracy of the proposed analytical method. This third part in the series presents details of the stress intensity factor and J calculations for cracked pipes. General data applicable for all defect geometries are first presented, and then, compendia for K I and σ ref calculations are provided for specific cases.