Assessment of dynamic fracture mechanics for the analysis of crack arrest in a pressurized thermal shock event. Final report. [Including crack arrest]
The objective of this project was to assess the feasibility of a dynamic fracture mechanics approach for use in analyses of postulated pressurized thermal shock (PTS) events in nuclear pressure vessels. The work focused on a high strength steel (type 4340) and employed linear elastic fracture mechanics concepts exclusively. Four specific tasks were performed. These were to (1) conduct dynamic crack run/arrest experiments in different temperature and crack speed regimes, (2) perform generation-phase elastodynamic finite element analyses of the experiments to obtain dynamic fracture toughness properties, (3) extrapolate these results to develop an approximate representation of the dynamic fracture toughness of nuclear pressure vessel steel, and (4) use this property to compute run/arrest behavior under a typical PTS condition. It was found that the crack arrest toughness data obtained via a dynamic fracture mechanics approach was largely in agreement with the 4340 steel data obtained (in a much complex manner) by other investigators. More significantly, the feasibility of applying the procedures developed in this research for PTS analyses was conclusively demonstrated. These results also indicate that, while dynamic effects must be considered in obtaining crack arrest data from small-scale specimen testing, static analysis may suffice for evaluating crack arrest in a nuclear pressure vessel. Recommendations are given for the further research that is needed to enable practical use of the approach developed in this work. 18 refs., 20 figs., 2 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5534027
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-NP-4043; ON: TI85920654; TRN: 85-015324
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Tests and analyses of crack arrest in reactor vessel materials: Final report
An analysis of dynamic crack propagation and arrest in a nuclear pressure vessel under thermal shock conditions
Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CRACK PROPAGATION
VELOCITY
PRESSURE VESSELS
FRACTURE MECHANICS
THERMAL SHOCK
REACTORS
STEELS
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
CRACKS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
RECOMMENDATIONS
STRESS INTENSITY FACTORS
ALLOYS
CONTAINERS
DATA
INFORMATION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MECHANICS
NUMERICAL DATA
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
360103 - Metals & Alloys- Mechanical Properties