An analysis of dynamic crack propagation and arrest in a nuclear pressure vessel under thermal shock conditions

Journal Article · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · J. Pressure Vessel Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3264251· OSTI ID:5384738

Jung, J; Kanninen, M F

The inner wall of a nuclear pressure vessel can become embrittled during service due to irradiation effects. As a result, a small flaw could become critical during the thermal shock that would accompany a loss-of-coolant-accident. To assess the consequences of this possibility, elastodynamic computations were performed on the subsequent rapid unstable crack run-arrest events. One difficulty is the lack of reliable dynamic fracture toughness data as a function of crack speed and temperature. However, using plausible estimates, computational results were obtained for comparison with conventional quasi-static analyses. These indicate that the neglect of the dynamic effects is mildly anticonservative for this application.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87185
• OSTI ID: 5384738
• Journal Information: J. Pressure Vessel Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pressure Vessel Technol.; (United States) Vol. 105:2; ISSN JPVTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
ACCIDENTS
CALCULATION METHODS
CONTAINERS
CRACK PROPAGATION
EMBRITTLEMENT
FRACTURE MECHANICS
IRRADIATION
LOSS OF COOLANT
MATERIALS
MECHANICS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
POWER REACTORS
PRESSURE VESSELS
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL SHOCK