An Analytical Solution for Piping Non-Planar Flaws

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phuong H. Hoang ◽  
Chee W. Mak
Keyword(s):  
Cross Section ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Pipe Wall ◽  
Axial Loading ◽  
Limit Load ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Axial Section ◽  
Accelerated Corrosion ◽  
Pressure Limit ◽  
Flow Accelerated Corrosion

Recent studies on the effect of multi-axis loading on piping non-planar flaws indicate that the ASME Section XI, Appendix C pressure limit load approach for planar axial flaws can be used for evaluation of non-planar flaws provided that the effect of multi axial loading is to be considered. Finite element analysis results presented in this paper also indicate that bending limit load for planar circumferential flaws can be used for evaluation of non-planar flaws subjected multi axial loading. These studies used idealized uniformly thin rectangular flaws whose projected flaw geometry on pipe cross section and on pipe axial section are the same as the circumferential flaw geometry and the axial flaw geometry defined ASME B&PV, Section XI Appendix C. Sample problems with actual pipe wall thinning flaws due to flow accelerated corrosion and pitting in nuclear power plant are utilized for a comparison of the proposed methodology with various methodologies currently used by the industry for locally thinning pipe flaw evaluations.

Effects of Flow Accelerated Corrosion on Piping Steady-State Vibration Evaluations

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Voll
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Pipe Wall ◽  
Vibration Monitoring ◽  
Accelerated Corrosion ◽  
Monitoring Programs ◽  
Wall Thinning ◽  
Piping Systems ◽  
Flow Accelerated Corrosion

Piping steady-state vibration monitoring programs were implemented during preoperational testing and initial plant startup at most nuclear power plants. Evaluations of piping steady-state vibrations are also performed as piping and component failures attributable to excessive vibration are detected or other potential vibration problems are detected during plant operation. Additionally, as a result of increased flow rates in some piping systems due to extended power uprate (EPU) programs at several plants, new piping steady-state vibration monitoring programs are in various stages of implementation. As plants have aged, pipe wall thinning resulting from flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) has become a recognized industry problem and programs have been established to detect, evaluate and monitor pipe wall thinning. Typically, the piping vibration monitoring and FAC programs have existed separately without interaction. Thus, the potential impact of wall thinning due to FAC on piping vibration evaluations may not be recognized. The potential effects of wall thinning due to FAC on piping vibration evaluations are reviewed. Piping susceptible to FAC and piping susceptible to significant steady-state vibrations, based on industry experience, are identified and compared. Possible methods for establishing links between the FAC and vibration monitoring programs and for accounting for the effects of FAC on both historical and future piping vibration evaluations are discussed.

Effects of Local Wall Thinning With Crack on Stress Intensity Factor for Pipes Subject to Combined Pressure and Bending

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy (Xiaoya) Tao ◽  
Lei Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Stress Intensity Factor ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Stress Intensity ◽  
Intensity Factor ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Limit Load ◽  
Minimum Thickness ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Accelerated Corrosion

Abstract At ageing power plants, local thinning of pipework or vessel is unavoidable due to erosion/corrosion or other reasons such as flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) — one of the common degradation mechanisms in pipework of nuclear power plant. Local thinning reduces the structure strength, resulting in crack initiation from the corrosion pit or welding defect when subject to cyclic loading. General practice is to use the minimum thickness of the thinned area to calculate both limit load and stress intensity factor (SIF) in performing Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA) using Failure Assessment Diagram (FAD). Using the minimum thickness is normally overly conservative as it assumes that thinning occurs grossly instead of locally, leading to unnecessary early repair/replacement and cost. Performing cracked body finite element analysis (FEA) can provide accurate values of limit load and SIF, but it is time consuming and impractical for daily maintenance and emergent support. To minimise the conservatisms and provide a guidance for the assessment of locally thinned pipework or vessel using existing handbook solutions, a study was carried out by the authors on the effect of local thinning on limit loads. The study demonstrates that local thinning has significant effect on limit load if the thinning ratio of thinning depth to original thickness is larger than 25%. It concluded that the limit load solutions given in handbooks (such as R6 or the net section method) are overly conservative if using the minimum local thickness and non-conservative if using the nominal thickness. This paper discusses the effect of local thinning on SIFs of internal/external defects using cracked body finite element method (FEM). The results are compared with R6 weight function SIF solutions for a cylinder. A modified R6 SIF solution is proposed to count for the effect of local thinning profile. Along with the previous published paper on limit load it provides comprehensive understanding and guidance for fracture assessment of the local thinned pipework and vessel.

Some Issues in Fitness for Service Assessment of Wall Thinned CANDU Feeder Pipes

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Jin ◽  
Seyun Eom ◽  
Raoul Awad
Keyword(s):  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Pipe Wall ◽  
Limit Load ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Membrane Stress ◽  
Minimum Thickness ◽  
Accelerated Corrosion ◽  
Class 1 ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Flow Accelerated Corrosion

Canadian CANDU® feeder pipes experiencing pipe wall thinning due to flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) are accepted for continued service after an engineering evaluation. This evaluation is based on the assumption that FAC degradation is manageable through a comprehensive inspection program and conservative engineering evaluations. The practice of the Canadian nuclear industry is to: establish a minimum acceptable wall thickness, compare the measured thickness to predictions from the previous outage to confirm the conservatism of the predictions in a condition assessment, and predict the thickness at the next inspection and compare against the minimum acceptable value in an operational assessment. If the thickness measured during outage does not meet the pre-established thickness criteria, the feeder should be replaced, unless it is demonstrated to be fit for service through a detailed analysis. The detailed analysis usually involves more complex methodologies which are subjected to regulatory reviews. Several issues have been raised in the fitness-for-service assessments of feeder pipes relating to the definition of primary membrane stress, interpretation of minimum thickness requirements, plasticity analysis, limit load analysis and the applicability of procedures given in Code Case N-597 to Class 1 feeder pipes. This paper presents the Canadian regulatory expectations on these issues.

scholarly journals On-Line Monitoring of Pipe Wall Thinning by a High Temperature Ultrasonic Waveguide System at the Flow Accelerated Corrosion Proof Facility

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 1762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Se-beom Oh ◽  
Yong-moo Cheong ◽  
Dong-jin Kim ◽  
Kyung-mo Kim
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Pipe Wall ◽  
Accelerated Corrosion ◽  
On Line ◽  
Waveguide System ◽  
Flow Accelerated Corrosion ◽  
Shear Horizontal

Pipe wall thinning and leakage due to flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) are important safety concerns for nuclear power plants. A shear horizontal ultrasonic pitch/catch technique was developed for the accurate monitoring of the pipe wall-thickness. A solid couplant should be used to ensure high quality ultrasonic signals for a long operation time at an elevated temperature. We developed a high temperature ultrasonic thickness monitoring method using a pair of shear horizontal transducers and waveguide strips. A computer program for on-line monitoring of the pipe thickness at high temperature was also developed. Both a conventional buffer rod pulse-echo type and a developed shear horizontal ultrasonic waveguide type for a high temperature thickness monitoring system were successfully installed to test a section of the FAC proof test facility. The overall measurement error was estimated as ±15 μm during a cycle ranging from room temperature to 150 °C. The developed waveguide system was stable for about 3300 h and sensitive to changes in the internal flow velocity. This system can be used for high temperature thickness monitoring in all industries as well as nuclear power plants.

Load Factor for Evaluating Non-Planar Flaws in Carbon Steel Piping Using Limit Load Methodology

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phuong H. Hoang
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Steel ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Pipe Wall ◽  
Local Strain ◽  
Limit Load ◽  
Evaluation Methodology ◽  
Load Factor ◽  
Wall Thinning ◽  
Steel Piping

Non-planar flaw such as local wall thinning flaw is a major piping degradation in nuclear power plants. Hundreds of piping components are inspected and evaluated for pipe wall loss due to flow accelerated corrosion and microbiological corrosion during a typical scheduled refueling outage. The evaluation is typically based on the original code rules for design and construction, and so often that uniformly thin pipe cross section is conservatively assumed. Code Case N-597-2 of ASME B&PV, Section XI Code provides a simplified methodology for local pipe wall thinning evaluation to meet the construction Code requirements for pressure and moment loading. However, it is desirable to develop a methodology for evaluating non-planar flaws that consistent with the Section XI flaw evaluation methodology for operating plants. From the results of recent studies and experimental data, it is reasonable to suggest that the Section XI, Appendix C net section collapse load approach can be used for non-planar flaws in carbon steel piping with an appropriate load multiplier factor. Local strain at non-planar flaws in carbon steel piping may reach a strain instability prior to net section collapse. As load increase, necking starting at onset strain instability leads to crack initiation, coalescence and fracture. Thus, by limiting local strain to material onset strain instability, a load multiplier factor can be developed for evaluating non-planar flaws in carbon steel piping using limit load methodology. In this paper, onset strain instability, which is material strain at the ultimate stress from available tensile test data, is correlated with the material minimum specified elongation for developing a load factor of non-planar flaws in various carbon steel piping subjected to multiaxial loading.

C219 Velocity field characteristics at pipe-wall thinning position induced by Flow-Accelerated Corrosion

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010.15 (0) ◽  
pp. 367-368
Author(s):  
Masashi Tatematsu ◽  
Sheng Feng ◽  
Shingo Furuya ◽  
Masaya Kondou ◽  
Yoshiyuki Tsuji
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Field ◽  
Pipe Wall ◽  
Accelerated Corrosion ◽  
Wall Thinning ◽  
Flow Accelerated Corrosion

Improvement of FAC Maintenance Program Issued From BRT-CICERO™ via CFD Calculations

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elodie Gipon
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Specific Effect ◽  
Piping System ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Accelerated Corrosion ◽  
Wear Rates ◽  
Maintenance Program ◽  
Calculation Algorithms

Flow Accelerated Corrosion (FAC) is very effective for nuclear power plant. This generalized corrosion can lead to the rupture of pipe and in some dramatic cases to casualties. During the last 20 years Electricité de France (EDF) has developed software called BRT-CICERO™ for the surveillance of the carbon steel piping system of its Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). This software enables the operator to calculate the FAC wear rates by taking into account all the influencing parameters such as pipe isometrics, alloy content, chemical conditioning, design and operating parameters of the steam water circuit (temperature, pressure, etc…). This is a major tool to help operators organize their maintenance and inspections plan. The algorithms implemented in BRT-CICERO™ are based on tests conducted by EDF R&D, empirical results (national and international feedback), literature reviews and on permanent adjustments based on the operating feedback, via statistical studies. However, for some piping components, from the turbine’s hall, flow dynamics are not optimized and calculated FAC kinetics may be too conservative. EDF is committed for optimizing and increasing reliability of its maintenance programs to prevent the risk of pipe rupture due to FAC. As in consequence EDF is leading continuous improvement in parameters and calculation algorithms for BRT-CICERO™. Furthermore studies on the geometric characteristics of the pipes were conducted. In BRT-CICERO™ geometric effect of a pipe component (elbow reduction, tees …) is taken into account by considering a factor called “Geo” in the calculation to tune the thickness loss rate according the component type, its characteristics and specific effect on flow mass transfer. EDF implements finite element analysis software to compute the mass transfer coefficient k and so ascertain the “Geo” coefficient. These computed “Geo” coefficients are compared to those used in BRT-CICERO™. If necessary, current “Geo” coefficients used in BRT-CICERO™ will be adjusted and optimized to improve maintenance programs issued from the software. The presentation deals with the calculation method used for these studies and some results will be shown on tube and elbows.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document