Finite Element Analyses of Residual Stresses in Typical Welded Joints Used in Nuclear Power Plants and Comparisons With Experiments

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean Deng ◽  
Kazuo Ogawa ◽  
Nobuyoshi Yanagida ◽  
Koichi Saito
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Residual Stress ◽  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Welded Joints ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Butt Joint ◽  
Welding Residual Stress ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Water Reactors

Recent discoveries of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) at nickel-based metals in pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs) have raised concerns about safety and integrity of plant components. It has been recognized that welding residual stress is an important factor causing the issue of SCC in a weldment. In this study, both numerical simulation technology and experimental method were employed to investigate the characteristics of welding residual stress distribution in several typical welded joints, which are used in nuclear power plants. These joints include a thick plate butt-welded Alloy 600 joint, a dissimilar metal J-groove set-in joint and a dissimilar metal girth-butt joint. First of all, numerical simulation technology was used to predict welding residual stresses in these three joints, and the influence of heat source model on welding residual stress was examined. Meanwhile, the influence of other thermal processes such as cladding, buttering and heat treatment on the final residual stresses in the dissimilar metal girth-butt joint was also clarified. Secondly, we also measured the residual stresses in three corresponding mock-ups. Finally, the comparisons of the simulation results and the measured data have shed light on how to effectively simulate welding residual stress in these typical joints.

An Analysis of Residual Stress Improvement for a Dissimilar Metal Nozzle-to-Pipe Weld by Using the Heat Sink Method

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-S. Park ◽  
J.-M. Kim ◽  
G.-H. Sohn ◽  
Y.-H. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Heat Sink ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Base Alloy ◽  
Fatigue Cracking ◽  
Hole Drilling ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Dissimilar Metal

This study is concerned with the mechanics analysis of residual stress improvement by the heat sink method applied to a dissimilar metal weld (DMW) for the use in nuclear power plants. The DMW joint considered here is composed of ferritic low-alloy steel nozzle, austenitic stainless steel safe-end, and nickel-base alloy A52 weld metal. To prepare the DMW joint with a narrow-gap, the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process is utilized, and the heat sink method is employed to control thermal gradients developed in the critical region of work pieces during welding. Weld residual stresses are computed by the non-linear thermal elasto-plastic analysis using the axisymmetric finite element (FE) model, for which temperature-dependent thermal and mechanical properties of the materials are considered. A full-scale mock-up test is conducted to validate analytical solution for the DMW joint, and residual stresses are measured by using the hole-drilling method. Results of the FE modeling and mock-up test for the DMW joint are compared and effects of the heat sink method are discussed. It is found that a significant amount of residual compressive stresses can be developed on the inner surface of the DMW joint by using the heat sink method, which can effectively reduce the susceptibility of the welded materials to stress corrosion or fatigue cracking.

Welding Residual Stress Solutions for Dissimilar Metal Surge Line Nozzle Welds

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rudland ◽  
A. Csontos ◽  
T. Zhang ◽  
G. Wilkowski
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Welding Residual Stress ◽  
Nozzle Geometry ◽  
Material Strength ◽  
Piping System ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Weld Material

At the end of 2006, defects were identified using ultrasonic testing in three of the pressurizer nozzle dissimilar metal (DM) welds at the Wolf Creek nuclear power plant. Understanding welding residual stress is important in the evaluation of why and how these defects occur, which in turn helps to determine the reliability of nuclear power plants. This paper presents analytical predictions of welding residual stress in the surge nozzle geometry identified at Wolf Creek. The analysis procedure in this paper includes not only the pass-by-pass welding steps, but also other essential fabrication steps of pressurizer surge nozzles. Detailed welding simulation analyses have been conducted to predict the magnitude of these stresses in the weld material. Case studies were carried out to investigate the change in the DM main weld stress fields resulting from different boundary conditions, material strength, weld sequencing, as well as simulation of the remaining piping system stiffness. A direct comparison of these analysis methodologies and results has been made in this paper. Weld residual stress results are compared directly to those calculated by the nuclear industry.

Welding Residual Stress and Flaw Evaluation for Dissimilar Metal Welds With Alloy 52 Inlays

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rudland ◽  
A. Csontos ◽  
F. Brust ◽  
T. Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Nickel Alloy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Welding Residual Stress ◽  
Residual Stress Field ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Water Reactors ◽  
Resistant Layer

With the recent occurrences of primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) at nickel-based dissimilar metal welds (specifically Alloy 82/182 welds) in the nation’s pressurized water reactors (PWRs), the commercial nuclear power industry has been proposing a number of mitigation strategies for dealing with the problem. Some of these methods include Mechanical Stress Improvement Process (MSIP), Full and Optimized Structural Weld Overlay (FSWOL, OWOL) and Inlay and Onlay welds. All of these methods provide either a reduction in the ID residual stress field, (MSIP and WOL) and/or apply a corrosion resistant layer to stop or retard a leak path from forming (WOL, Inlay, Onlay). For the larger bore pipe, i.e. hot leg outlet nozzle, methods such as FSWOL become cost prohibitive due to the amount of weld metal that must be deposited. Therefore, inlay welds are being proposed since only a small layer (3 weld beads) needs to be deposited on the inside surface of the pipe. Currently the ASME code is developing Code Case N-766 ‘Nickel Alloy Reactor Coolant Inlay and Cladding for Repair or Mitigation of PWR Full Penetration Circumferential Nickel Alloy Welds in Class 1 Items.’ This code case is documenting the procedures for applying these inlay welds. As part of a confirmatory analysis, the US NRC staff and its contractor, Engineering Mechanics Corporation of Columbus, (Emc2) have conducted both welding residual stress and flaw evaluation analyses to determine the effectiveness of inlay welds as a mitigative technique. This paper presents the ongoing results from this effort. Using several large bore geometries, detailed welding simulation analyses were conducted on the procedures set forth in draft Code Case N-766. Effects of weld repairs and temper bead welding are included. Using these residual stress results, PWSCC growth analyses were conducted using simulated crack growth rates as a function of chromium content to estimate the time to leakage and rupture for small initial flaws in the inlay. The paper concludes with discussions on the effectiveness of inlays based on these analyses.

Welding Residual Stress Solutions for Dissimilar Metal Surge Line Nozzles Welds

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rudland ◽  
T. Zhang ◽  
G. Wilkowski ◽  
A. Csontos
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Welding Residual Stress ◽  
Material Strength ◽  
Piping System ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Weld Residual Stress ◽  
Weld Material

During the last year, defects had been located by ultrasonic testing in three of the pressurizer nozzle dissimilar metal (DM) welds at the Wolf Creek nuclear power plant. Understanding welding residual stress is important in the evaluation of why and how these defects occur, which in turn helps to determine the reliability of nuclear power plants. The analysis procedure in this paper included not only the pass-by-pass welding steps, but also other essential fabrication steps of pressurizer surge nozzles. Detailed welding simulation analyses have been conducted to predict the magnitude of these stresses in the weld material. Case studies were carried out to investigate the influences to main weld stress fields with different boundary conditions, material strength, weld sequencing, as well as simulation of the remaining piping system stiffness. A direct comparison of these analysis methodologies and results has been made in this paper. Weld residual stress results from nuclear industry (conducted by Dominion Engineering, Inc.) and the US NRC (conducted by Engineering Mechanics Corporation) are also compared.

Numerical simulation of the effect of ultrasonic impact treatment on welding residual stress

2021 ◽  
pp. 2150175
Author(s):  
Tao Mo ◽  
Jingqing Chen ◽  
Pengju Zhang ◽  
Wenqian Bai ◽  
Xiao Mu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Residual Stress ◽  
Compressive Stress ◽  
Welded Joints ◽  
Welding Process ◽  
Residual Compressive Stress ◽  
Welding Residual Stress ◽  
304 Stainless Steel ◽  
Residual Tensile Stress ◽  
Ultrasonic Impact Treatment

Ultrasonic impact treatment (UIT) is an effective method that has been widely applied in welding structure to improve the fatigue properties of materials. It combines mechanical impact and ultrasonic vibration to produce plastic deformation on the weld joints surface, which introduces beneficial compressive residual stress distribution. To evaluate the effect of UIT technology on alleviating the residual stress of welded joints, a novel numerical analysis method based on the inherent strain theory is proposed to simulate the stress superposition of welding and subsequent UIT process of 304 stainless steel. Meanwhile, the experiment according to the process was carried out to verify the simulation of residual stress values before and after UIT. By the results, optimization of UIT application could effectively reduce the residual stress concentration after welding process. Residual tensile stress of welded joints after UIT is transformed into residual compressive stress. UIT formed a residual compressive stress layer with a thickness of about 0.13 mm on the plate. The numerical simulation results are consistent with the experimental results. The work in this paper could provide theoretical basis and technical support for the reasonable evaluation of the ultrasonic impact on residual stress elimination and mechanical properties improvement of welded joints.

Investigation of welding residual stress in flash-butt joint of U71Mn rail steel by numerical simulation and experiment

2015 ◽  
Vol 88 ◽  
pp. 1296-1309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ninshu Ma ◽  
Zhipeng Cai ◽  
Hui Huang ◽  
Dean Deng ◽  
Hidekazu Murakawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Residual Stress ◽  
Rail Steel ◽  
Butt Joint ◽  
Welding Residual Stress ◽  
Simulation And Experiment

Welding Residual Stress's Numerical Simulation and Relieving of Guyed Mast Earplate Joint Substructure

2011 ◽  
Vol 216 ◽  
pp. 218-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Li Wang ◽  
Wei Lian Qu ◽  
Jie He
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Residual Stress ◽  
Temperature Field ◽  
Stress Field ◽  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Welding Residual Stress ◽  
Welding Stress ◽  
Welding Temperature ◽  
Joint Properties ◽  
Guyed Mast

The dynamic stress-strain and welding residual stress during welding are the significant factors which lead to welded cracking and debasement of the joint properties. Therefore, the welding residual stresses are still very importang problems.A large number of guyed mast accidents study shows that the welded joints of earplate and shaft were easily to be destroyed. Therefore, the accurate assessment of the guyed maste earplate joint substructure’s welding residual stress is of great significance. The theory and method of simulation of the welding temperature field and welding stress field by finite element method is first introduced, and then the earplate substructure refine model is established which was up to the welding numerical simulation. Based on ANSYS software’s APDL language to apply the welding heat source load, we can get and save the welding temperature field results at each time. Conversing the thermal analysis element into structure element to finish the caculation of the welding stress field. Eventually by adopting the elimination remnant technology to remove the part of welding residual stresses, we can got the final welding residual stress in different relieving proportion.

Apply the Acoustoelastic Method to Determine Residual Stresses in Welded Joints

NDT World ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 10-17
Author(s):  
Arkady Kamyshev ◽  
Aleksandr Danilov ◽  
Lev Pasmanik ◽  
Aleksandr Getman ◽  
Dmitry Kuzmin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Weld Metal ◽  
Base Metal ◽  
Welded Joints ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Stress Measurement ◽  
Metal Structure ◽  
Mechanical Tests ◽  
Residual Welding

The problem of maximum stresses estimation in the weld metal, where the direct measurements are not possible due to the influence of the metal structure on the measurement error, was solved. The influence of features of welding joints manufacturing technology on the structure of the weld metal was also determined. We use several reference welded joints of pipelines at nuclear power plants in our studies. Instrumental estimation of acoustoelasticity parameters in the weld metal in welded joints and in adjacent areas of the base metal was used together with computational modeling of the residual welding stresses distributions. Results obtained demonstrate that the error of stress measurement in the metal in the joint, which is related to the structure of the weld metal, is comparable to the material yield strength. Due to that a direct measurement of the maximum values of welding stresses is not possible. Comparison of results of acoustoelasticity parameters measurements with results of the metal macrostructure studies and mechanical tests allowed us to determine the relationship between peculiarities of structure of the weld metal sections at vertical joints with their tendency to brittle destruction. We propose and justify the NDT method of residual welding stresses in the weld metal. It is based on the principle of residual stresses balancing and employs the results of stress measurements in the base metal by acoustoelasticity. Applicability of non-destructive testing of acoustoelasticity parameters to identify the areas of welded joints with a higher tendency to brittle fracture is also justified.

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