Abstract
A total of seven pipe fracture tests were performed to provide the data for establishing fracture criteria of leak before break for the low alloy steel pipe, which is expected to be applied to reactor coolant piping and feedwater piping in advanced PWRs in Japan. Test pipes were 6-inch and 8-inch diameter pipes made of SFVQ1A or STPA24 low alloy steel. A circumferential through-wall crack was introduced at the center of a pipe, and four-point bending load was applied without internal pressure. Stable crack extensions were observed in all of the experiments. The net-section criteria (NSC), R6 method option 2 and option 3 were used to estimate the maximum applied load. The predicted values by three kinds of evaluation methods were compared with the experimental loads. Most of the predicted maximum loads agreed well with the experimental maximum loads within 20% difference. The NSC gave the most accurate prediction but also gave unconservative results in some test cases. The predicted maximum loads by R6 option 2 were conservative in all of the test cases. From the viewpoint of conservativeness R6 method can be used for evaluation of the low alloy steel pipe fracture. Therefore, the leak before break (LBB) concept could be applied to the protective design standard against pipe break for the material.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
