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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Current capabilities for continuous AE monitoring to detect flaws in reactor pressure boundaries

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6351477

A major program at Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) is directed to developing the use of acoustic emission (AE) methods for continuous surveillance to detect and evaluate flaw growth in reactor pressure boundaries. The work is supported by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Division of Engineering Technology. In the first phase of the program, test data from laboratory specimens was used to develop preliminary relationships for identification of crack growth AE and for estimating flaw severity from AE data. Two subsequent phases concern evaluation and refinement of the AE technology through monitoring a long term fatigue test of a heavy section vessel called the ZB-1 vessel (Phase 2) and demonstration of AE surveillance on Watts Bar Unit 1 Reactor (Phase 3). 6 refs., 9 figs.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
6351477
Report Number(s):
PNL-SA-13035; CONF-850670-27; ON: TI85018526
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English