Influence of defect kind and size on margins with respect to fast fracture of irradiated PWR vessels. Joint EPRI-CRIEPI RPV embrittlement studies, Final report
- Societe Franco-Americaine de Constructions Atomiques (FRAMATOME), 92 - Courbevoie (France)
Embrittlement may be a life-limiting issue for some reactor pressure vessels. The objective of this research program was to examine the effects of improved analysis techniques on the margins against crack initiation in pressurized water reactor (PWR) vessels. The work looked at the assumptions of initial defects, both the kinds and sizes of near-surface flaws, and considered the treatment of cladding in the fracture mechanics analyses to determine the risk of fast fracture. Improved stress intensity calculational methods were also employed for determination of critical crack sizes. Comparisons of these results were made with those from prior studies. The new results showed that the improved analytical techniques may lead to evaluation of smaller potential crack sizes and more realistic treatment of surface flaws, an important finding for utilities having to develop non-destructive inspection methods and perform analyses to demonstrate acceptability of an irradiated PWR vessel.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States); Societe Franco-Americaine de Constructions Atomiques (FRAMATOME), 92 - Courbevoie (France)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 10174776
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR-102521; CRIEPI-T-989204; ON: UN93017562; TRN: 93:016738
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Jun 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
PWR TYPE REACTORS
PRESSURE VESSELS
REACTOR VESSELS
EMBRITTLEMENT
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
FRACTURE MECHANICS
DEFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MATERIALS TESTING
CRACKS
STAINLESS STEELS
210200
360103
360106
POWER REACTORS
NONBREEDING
LIGHT-WATER MODERATED
NONBOILING WATER COOLED