Study on Crack Propagation Life under Low Cycle Fatigue and High Cycle Fatigue of Nuclear Steam Turbine Rotors

Abstract

The calculation and assessment methods for the crack propagation life under low cycle fatigue and high cycle fatigue of nuclear steam turbine rotors is presented. The low high fatigue cycle stress amplitude and stress range as well as the crack propagation life calculation methods for low cycle fatigue and high cycle fatigue of nuclear steam turbine rotors are introduced. The calculation and assessment methods for the crack propagation calendar life under low cycle fatigue and high cycle fatigue of nuclear steam turbine rotors are given together with an application example for calculation and improvement of the fatigue crack propagation calendar life of a low pressure welded rotor for 1 000 MW nuclear steam turbines. The example results indicate that effect of the high cycle fatigue on the fatigue crack propagation calendar life of nuclear steam turbine rotors is bigger, it is necessary that assessment for the crack propagation life under low cycle fatigue and high cycle fatigue of rotors in the rotor structure design of new development for nuclear steam turbine and the rotor safety assessment for operation steam turbine for nuclear power plants.