Mechanical Characteristics of Nuclear Main Steam Line Penetration Fabricated by Electric Melting Additive Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing (AM) can fabricate 3D near-net-shaped functional parts using unit materials, such as powder or wire. Additive manufacturing’s computer-aided design offers superior geometrical flexibility. The near-net shaping capability also reduces materials waste and increase manufacturing efficiency significantly. These benefits make AM desirable for critical industry applications, such as art, aerospace, ground transportation, and medical. Confident utilization of the technology requires thorough understanding of the AM materials, ensuring both structural integrity and performance requirements are met or exceeded. Safety and economics are essential to nuclear power plant. In this study, mechanical properties of a ferritic steel fabricated by electric melting additive manufacturing (EMAM) technique are studied and compared with ASME SA-336 Gr.F12, which applied to nuclear main steam line penetration, the results are systematically presented and discussed. Key technical issues of application of AM to manufacturing nuclear components are also discussed.