Abstract
In this paper, the effects of thermal stress on AP1000 reactor pressure vessel (RPV) is analyzed, and the elliptical corner crack propagation at the nozzle-cylinder intersection is investigated. The corner crack stress intensity factor (SIF) is computed under static pressure and combination (static pressure plus thermal stress) loadings and crack propagation. The analysis reveals that with an increase degree of the surface corner crack in the longitudinal section of in-let nozzle, SIF will decrease gradually; Due to the influence of thermal stress, the crack growth length is shorter, the growth rate is slower and the SIF is smaller. The numerical results of SIF for a wide range of crack propagation are provided as a reference for the fracture mechanics design of the RPV.
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