Studies of residual stress measurement and analysis techniques for a PWR dissimilar weld joint

Abstract

For evaluation of the PWSCC crack propagation behavior, a test model was produced using the same fabrication process of Japanese PWR plants and the stress distribution change was measured during a fabrication process such as a hydrostatic test, welding a main coolant pipe to the stainless steel safe end and an operation condition test. For confirmation of validity of the numerical estimation method of the stress distribution, FE analysis was performed to calculate the stress distributions for each fabrication process. From the validation procedure, a standard residual stress evaluation method was established. Furthermore for consideration of characteristics of PWSCC’s propagation behavior of the dissimilar welding joint of the safe end nozzles, the influence coefficients at the deepest point for the stress intensity factors of axial cracks with large aspect ratio a/c (crack depth/half of surface crack length) was prepared. The crack shape was assumed a rectangular shape and the stress intensity factors at the deepest point of the crack were calculated with change of crack depth using FE analysis.By using these stress distribution and influence coefficients, a behavior of a PWSCC crack propagation at the safe end nozzles can be estimated easily and rationally.