Finite-element modeling of pinch welds

Technical Report · Sat Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:5908904

Kain, K E

Finite-element modeling was performed on pinch welds used to seal deuterium-tritium reservoirs at SRP. The analysis examined two of the possible failure mechanisms in these welds - service stresses and hydrogen/helium embrittlement. Both confined and unconfined weld geometries were considered. Service stresses due to the internal pressure of the deuterium-tritium gas mixture were modeled. Stress concentrations arising from an elastic material were examined along with those resulting from plastically deforming alloys. In addition, the analysis included deuterium and tritium diffusion along with radioactive decay of tritium to helium. Results show that the presence of embrittling species, in combination with large stress concentrations, would cause fracture if it occurred, to initiate preferentially in the corner regions of the tube. Comparisons of pinch weld geometries suggest that controlling weld contour will have minimal effect on resistance to crack growth.

• Research Organization: Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-76SR00001
• OSTI ID: 5908904
• Report Number(s): DP-1715; ON: DE86009573
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360101* -- Metals & Alloys-- Preparation & Fabrication
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CONTAINERS
CRACK PROPAGATION
DEUTERIUM
ELEMENTS
EMBRITTLEMENT
FABRICATION
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FLUIDS
GASES
HELIUM
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
JOINING
JOINTS
LIGHT NUCLEI
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
RARE GASES
SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT
SEALS
STABLE ISOTOPES
TRITIUM
TUBES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WELDED JOINTS
WELDING
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES