Environmentally assisted cracking in light water reactors. Annual report, October 1982-September 1983
Leaks and cracks in the heat-affected zones (HAZs) of weldments in austenitic stainless steel piping and associated components in boiling water reactors (BWRs) have been observed since the mid-1960s. Cracking has continued to occur and indications have been found in all parts of the recirculation system including the largest-diameter lines. Proposed remedies include (1) procedures primarily intended to produce a more favorable residual stress state in the HAZ adjacent to welds, (2) replacement of the piping with materials that are more resistant to stress corrosion cracking, and (3) modification of the reactor coolant environment to decrease the susceptibility to cracking. In addition to evaluating these remedies it is also important to understand the influence of key variables, such as residual stress, crack growth rates, and the margin for leak-before-break (LBB) in flawed piping, which may impact regulatory decisions on operating plants. Information is presented concerning leak detection and nondestructive evaluation; analysis of sensitization; crack growth rate studies; evaluation of nonenvironmental corrective actions; evaluation of environmental corrective actions; and mechanistic studies.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 6238467
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-3806; ANL-84-36; ON: TI84016160
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
210100* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360103 -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
360105 -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
ACOUSTIC TESTING
ALLOYS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CHROMIUM STEELS
CHROMIUM-NICKEL STEELS
COOLING SYSTEMS
CORROSION
CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS
CRACKS
DATA
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FEEDWATER
HEAT RESISTANT MATERIALS
HEAT RESISTING ALLOYS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
LEAK DETECTORS
LEAK TESTING
MATERIALS
MATERIALS TESTING
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
NICKEL ALLOYS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
NUMERICAL DATA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE
PIPES
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
PRIMARY COOLANT CIRCUITS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
STAINLESS STEEL-304
STAINLESS STEEL-316
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
STRAINS
STRESS CORROSION
STRESSES
TESTING
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS