IASCC Evaluation Method of Irradiated Cold Worked 316SS Baffle Former Bolt in PWR Primary Water

Abstract

Irradiation Assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking (IASCC) is a matter of great concern as degradation of core internal components in light water nuclear reactor. To clarify the IASCC initiation conditions of baffle former bolt (BFB), constant load stress corrosion cracking (SCC) tests were carried out in simulated PWR primary water (290, 320, 340°C) using C-ring type specimens. Based on the SCC test results, IASCC initiation time becomes shorter with increasing fluence and increasing applied stress, IASCC initiation threshold stress becomes lower with increasing fluence. A test temperature effect was observed in SCC initiation time, but it was not clear the effect of test temperature for SCC initiation threshold stress. These results suggest that IASCC initiation threshold criteria can be described with stress in specimen and fluence. This paper describes the whole evaluation procedure to secure structural integrity of irradiated baffle structure in PWR primary environments, including the threshold stress diagram of IASCC initiation and the irradiation creep formula.