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Neutron diffraction illustrates residual stress behavior of welded alloys used as radioactive confinement boundary

Journal Article · · International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [2]
  1. Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  3. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
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Corrosion-resistant welded alloys are frequently used as a leak-tight boundary in critical applications that require confinement of hazardous and/or radioactive substances, including an increasing population of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) canisters. The behavior of residual stresses generated as a result of irregular elastic–plastic deformation during processes such as welding is one of today's key issues to a full understanding of the aging mechanisms that may compromise the confinement boundary. Whether such processes and any subsequent weld repairs, not subjected to post-weld heat treatment, would negatively affect the initial material by introducing through-thickness tensile stresses remains an open question. Here we report the first residual stress measurements using neutron diffraction on the welded joints of a SNF canister. We found significant tensile residual stresses in the as welded sample, indicating that initiation and through-thickness growth of cracks may be possible. Following repair, we observed a stress redistribution and introduction of beneficial compressive stresses. We anticipate our results will improve understanding of confinement susceptibility to aging and guide improvements in repair techniques.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Scientific User Facilities Division
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000; AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1777814
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1810398
OSTI ID: 1782284
OSTI ID: 23196943
Report Number(s):
SAND--2021-3573J
Journal Information:
International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, Journal Name: International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping Journal Issue: n/a Vol. 191; ISSN 0308-0161
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (12)

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Measurement of the residual stresses in a stainless steel pipe girth weld containing long and short repairs journal April 2005
Residual stresses in welded structures journal March 2008
Chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking of used nuclear fuel welded stainless steel canisters: A review journal November 2015
General corrosion and stress corrosion cracking of Alloy 600 in light water reactor primary coolants journal October 2019
Current capabilities of the residual stress diffractometer at the high flux isotope reactor journal September 2018
Effects of Repair Weld Length on Residual Stress Distribution journal August 2001
Welding Residual Stresses and Effects on Fracture in Pressure Vessel and Piping Components: A Millennium Review and Beyond journal April 2000
Thermal and structural modelling of arc welding processes: A literature review journal May 2019
Residual stress. Part 1 – Measurement techniques journal April 2001

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
arc welding
neutron diffraction
residual stress
weld repair