Lifetime Analysis of Fusion Reactor First Wall Components

1983 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Watson ◽  
R. R. Peterson ◽  
W. G. Wolfer

Linear elastic fracture mechanics is used to predict the growth of a semi-elliptical surface flaw through a thin-walled actively cooled 316 stainless steel first wall in a tokamak power reactor, which is subjected to pulsed surface heat fluxes, 14 MeV neutron irradiation and sputtering from particle bombardment. The results from an inelastic stress analysis, which includes thermal creep, irradiation creep, swelling, and wall thinning, are coupled to the crack growth calculations. The effects of temperature, R-ratio, threshold ΔK, neutron-induced embrittlement, creep crack growth and two-dimensional flaw shape changes are included. Predictions for a cylindrical blanket module with hemispherical first wall end cap indicate that severe reductions in lifetime can occur when radiation damage effects are included and demonstrate the need for high fluence data on da/dN and KIc.

Author(s):  
Arvind Keprate ◽  
R. M. Chandima Ratnayake

A typical procedure for a remnant fatigue life (RFL) assessment is stated in the BS-7910 standard. The aforementioned standard provides two different methodologies for estimating RFL; these are: the S-N curve approach and the crack growth laws (i.e. using Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) principles) approach. Due to its higher accuracy, the latter approach is more commonly used for RFL assessment in the offshore industry. Nevertheless, accurate prediction of RFL using the deterministic LEFM approach (stated in BS-7910) is a challenging task, as RFL prediction is afflicted with a high number of uncertainties. Furthermore, BS-7910 does not provide any recommendation in regard to handling the uncertainty in the deterministic RFL assessment process. The most common way of dealing with the aforementioned uncertainty is to employ Probabilistic Crack Growth (PCG) models for estimating the RFL. This manuscript explains the procedure for addressing the uncertainty in the RFL assessment of process piping with the help of a numerical example. The numerically obtained RFL estimate is used to demonstrate a calculation of inspection interval.


1983 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. A. Lees ◽  
P. S. J. Crofton

ABSTRACTThe rate of growth of fatigue cracks originating at the bore and at the outside surface of thick-walled low alloy steel cylinders has been measured for cylinders subjected to fluctuating internal pressure.Analysis of the results using linear elastic fracture mechanics relationships shows that crack growth rates found in air adequately predict the behaviour of cracks growing from the outside surface of a cylinder.Fatigue cracks growing from the bore of a cylinder subjected to fluctuating internal pressure are found to advance at a consistently higher rate than that predicted from crack growth rate tests carried out in air.These findings are discussed in relation to the proposed adoption of existent strain-life fatigue data for pressure vessel design.


1986 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-56
Author(s):  
R. M. Horn

Full Size pipe tests have been conducted as part of EPRI research programs at the General Electric Company to verify IGSCC crack growth predictions made using a linear elastic fracture mechanics model. The tests on 10.16 cm (4″ pipes) were performed in oxygenated, high temperature, high purity water. The pipes were produced through standard manufacturing procedures which in turn led to characteristic field piping sensitization levels in the heat affected zones (HAZ) and characteristic through wall weld residual stresses. The tests were conducted at stresses equal to or below the yield strength under constant load with limited cycling. Ultrasonic inspection and metallography were used to characterize crack depth after several test phases and used to verify model predictions. Significant cracks were detected and radial and circumferential growth were documented. These test results support the predictions made using linear elastic fracture mechanics modeling, and are discussed in terms of crack growth data developed in CT specimens in the laboratory. The stress level and oxygen level are shown to influence the crack growth rates. Rates of circumferential crack growth are also evaluated. The paper discusses the results in the context of other stress corrosion evaluations as well.


2011 ◽  
Vol 488-489 ◽  
pp. 407-410
Author(s):  
Antonio De Iorio ◽  
Marzio Grasso ◽  
F. Penta ◽  
G. P. Pucillo

In order to carry out the railway axle design according to the “Damage Tolerance” philosophy, reliable crack-growth models for these kind of components are necessary. Indeed, damage tolerance principles have received more and more attention from railway technical community, thanks to its ambitious task concerning the inspection intervals prevision of railway components subjected to non-stationary loading conditions. In this paper, a simple routine is exposed that is able to calculate the characteristic parameters of the Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) for a generic cracked mechanical component. Such parameters are then used in a two parameters propagation law to estimate the necessary time for a crack to become critical.


Author(s):  
Jinhua Shi

R5 is an assessment procedure for the high temperature response of structures and R5 Volume 7 specifies the creep crack growth assessment for low alloy welds. For high temperature low alloy butt welds, the effects of the welding residual stresses on the creep crack growth for a circumferential defect has been investigated by Shi under a constant temperature of 532.7°C. In addition to the welding residual stresses, it is well known that temperatures also affect significantly creep deformation, creep rupture and accordingly creep crack growth. Hence, in this paper an investigation for the effects of temperature changes on the creep crack growth and also on component remnant lives has been carried out. In this paper, for a typical low alloy butt weld in ½Cr½Mo¼V (‘½CMV’) pipework with 2¼Cr weld metal under a given internal pressure and a bending welding residual stress of 60MPa, a series of creep crack growth analyses have been conducted using the R5 Volume 7 assessment procedure, assuming different operating temperatures during different operating periods. A postulated internal circumferential defect (semi-elliptical surface-breaking surface defect) of 2.3 mm deep by 15 mm long has been used. The investigation results are presented by a series of graphs which show the effects of the temperature changes on the creep crack growth and plant remnant lives for the weld studied. After a detailed discussion, conclusions can be drawn.


Author(s):  
Scott Keller

The failure of vital components is not uncommon in the gas turbine industry. In the event excessive degradation occurs within a component, e.g. extensive cracking in a turbine blade or vane, solutions exist to either repair or replace defective parts. Such parts are readily accessible and mostly exchangeable in the field, limiting the amount of outage time and assessment required for defective parts. When more critical components exhibit extreme wear or cracking, e.g. a crack in a rotor disk, repairs typically necessitate a complete rotor destack and refurbishment or have the potential to require the replacement of individual disks. In extreme cases, defects found in rotor disks can be known to retire an entire compressor or turbine rotor. The OEM solution of replacing disks puts a substantial cost on the customer, thus providing an incentive for characterization and advanced analyses to determine the residual life in critical rotating components. Considered an advanced analysis, linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) provides the theory and fundamental structure to conduct crack growth analyses in components that exhibit nominally elastic behavior. Successful implementation of LEFM requires extensive characterization of the material, engine operating boundary conditions, and high fidelity finite element models. Upon the detection of a flaw, whether an internal or external indication, the results from finite element analyses can be used to derive the crack tip stress field and subsequent crack tip driving parameters. These parameters are then utilized in a comprehensive crack propagation model, calibrated to temperature- and load-dependent material data, to determine the number of cycles to unstable propagation. As a result, the remaining life of a component with a given indication is readily obtained, enabling our engineering team to provide a thorough life assessment of critical rotating components. An overview of the linear elastic fracture mechanics crack growth analyses conducted is presented, with a special emphasis on compressor and turbine disks.


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