Fracture Toughness Tests on Western RPV Steels Using Small Scale Specimen Technique

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Obermeier ◽  
Eberhard Altstadt ◽  
Hieronymus Hein ◽  
Aniruddh Das
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Opening ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Opening Displacement ◽  
Reliable Determination ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Load Line Displacement ◽  
International Projects ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
European Nuclear

Abstract In order to ensure continued safe operation of European nuclear reactors, it is necessary to solve specific issues that arise from irradiation induced reactor pressure vessel (RPV) embrittlement under long term operation. This requires an extension of the RPV surveillance programs to cover longer operation times than originally planned. The limited availability of surveillance materials poses a challenge for the feasibility of such programs. Among others, the use of the small specimen technology is a promising option to overcome the lack of materials. For example, a number of not less than 16 sub-sized 0.16 C(T) specimens (4 mm thickness) can be manufactured from two tested Charpy sized (10 mm × 10 mm × 55 mm) specimens, allowing a reliable determination of the reference temperature T0. Such Charpy sized fracture mechanics specimens are currently widely used in the RPV surveillance programs. To establish the methodology for fracture mechanics testing of irradiated and unirradiated RPV steels using sub-sized specimens, a joined R&D project was launched partly financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Moreover the following points shall be addressed: • Manufacturing, pre-cracking procedure, measurement of the crack opening displacement and load line displacement under hot cell conditions • Demonstration of the transferability of fracture mechanics data The purpose is to demonstrate that the results measured on sub-sized specimens can safely be used in the safety assessment of RPVs. In addition, the results will establish a basis to assess results from international projects regarding sub-sized fracture mechanics specimens.

Plastic relaxation at a crack tip by asymmetric slip

1988 ◽  
Vol 418 (1854) ◽  
pp. 261-280 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Slip Band ◽  
Crack Opening ◽  
Crack Tip ◽  
Friction Stress ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Crack Tip Opening Displacement ◽  
Opening Displacement ◽  
Sharp Crack ◽  
Scale Yielding ◽  
Crack Tip Opening

Relaxation at a sharp crack tip by a single slip band is considered. It is shown that for mixed-mode loading of a plane crack in an isotropic medium there is a unique angle between the slip band and the crack for which the energy release rate (or stress intensity factor) of the crack can be reduced to zero. For such a slip-band calculations are made of the slipband length and the crack-opening displacement as a function of the loading, crack length and friction stress acting on dislocations in the slip band. For small-scale yielding, a simple model is discussed that gives a good approximation to the crack-tip opening displacement and slip-band angle.

The Experimental Work in Support to ATLAS+ Project

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Moinereau ◽  
Patrick Le Delliou ◽  
Anna Dahl ◽  
Yann Kayser ◽  
Szabolcs Szavai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Experimental Work ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Ductile Material ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Integrity Assessment

The 4-years European project ATLAS+ project was launched in June 2017. Its main objective is to develop advanced structural assessment tools to address the remaining technology gaps for the safe and long term operation of nuclear reactor pressure coolant boundary systems. The transferability of ductile material properties from small scale fracture mechanics specimens to large scale components is one of the topics of the project. A large programme of experimental work is to be conducted in support of the development and validation of advanced tools for structural integrity assessment within the framework of the work-package 1 (WP 1): Design and execution of simulation oriented experiments to validate models at different scales. The experimental work is based on a full set of fracture mechanics experiments conducted on standard specimens and large scale components (several pipes and one mock-up), including a full materials characterization. Three materials are considered: • a ferritic steel 15NiCuMoNb5 (WB 36) • an aged austenitic stainless steel weld • a VVER (eastern PWR) dissimilar metal weld (DMW) The paper presents the WP 1, the experimental programme and summarizes the first results.

Determination of J-Integral Using the Load-COD Record for Circumferential Through-Wall Cracked Pipes

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nam-Su Huh ◽  
Yun-Jae Kim
Keyword(s):  
Crack Opening ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
J Integral ◽  
Opening Displacement ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Load Line ◽  
Load Line Displacement ◽  
Η Factor ◽  
J Estimation

The present paper provides experimental J estimation equation based on the load-crack opening displacement (COD) record for testing the circumferential through-wall cracked pipe under combined tension and bending. Based on the limit analysis and the kinematically admissible rigid-body rotation field, the plastic η-factor for the load-COD record is derived and is compared with that for the load-load line displacement record. Comparison with the J results from detailed elastic-plastic finite element analysis shows that the proposed method based on the load-COD record provides reliable J estimates even for shallow cracks (small crack angle), whereas the conventional approach based on the load-load line displacement record gives erroneous results for shallow cracks. Thus, the proposed J estimation method could be recommended for testing the circumferential through-wall cracked pipe, particularly with shallow cracks.

Determination of crack-opening displacement by the method of caustics

1974 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 197-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
P S Theocaris
Keyword(s):  
Crack Opening Displacement ◽  
Mechanical Characteristics ◽  
Crack Opening ◽  
Crack Tip ◽  
External Loading ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Opening Displacement ◽  
Cracked Plates ◽  
Good Agreement

A new experimental technique based on the method of caustics is presented for the measurement of the distance between the lips of a crack near the crack-tip. The two parts of the caustic formed by reflections from the front and rear faces of the specimen lie at a distance from each other. The gap between these parts depends on the total c.o.d. (crack-opening displacement), that is the initial opening and the opening due to loading, as well as on the optical and mechanical characteristics of the material By increasing the external loading of the cracked plate, the gap between the parts of the caustic was changed and this gap measured the instantaneous c.o.d. due to loading. The method was applied to the measurement of small c.o.d.s. due to small-scale loading, with satisfactory results. Therefore it can certainly be used to measure c.o.d.s at large loading steps, up to fracture, because the gap between the parts of the caustic becomes significant and easy to measure. Measurements with cracked plates made of p.m.m.a. (polymethylmethacrylate) and polycarbonate showed that the results obtained are in good agreement with theory. Thus, it has been proved that the method of caustics yields a very sensitive means for measuring c.o.d.s, especially in small-scale deformations, where measurement of c.o.d by conventional methods is inaccurate. A great advantage of the method is that it measures the c.o.d.s at a well defined region, which always remains near to the crack tip.

Fracture mechanics in design and service: ‘living with defects’ - Assessment of defects: the c.o.d. approach

1981 ◽  
Vol 299 (1446) ◽  
pp. 155-167 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Toughness ◽  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Opening ◽  
Local Stress ◽  
Concentration Effects ◽  
Opening Displacement ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Linear Elastic ◽  
Applied Loading ◽  
Displacement Approach

In welded construction particular problems arise with the application of fracture mechanics for the assessment of the effect of defects on structural performance. In many practical cases the use of plane strain linear elastic fracture mechanics methods is invalidated by the actual material thicknesses of interest, by residual stresses or by local stress concentration effects, and by local yielding. The crack opening displacement approach was originally devised as a means of extending linear elastic methods to more widespread application to welded structures. This required the development of a means of assessing fracture toughness, and a means of relating this fracture toughness to the applied loading conditions, and to sizes and types of defects which might be present. The success of this method of assessing defects over a period of some 10-12 years will be illustrated, together with a discussion of the inherent limitations of the approach and possible improvements resulting from recent research into slow tearing and design curve relationships.

Fracture Mechanics of Periodic Multilayers With Different Microstructural Scales and Moduli Contrast

2008 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linfeng Chen ◽  
Marek-Jerzy Pindera
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Opening ◽  
Strain Energy Release ◽  
Computational Effort ◽  
Mode I ◽  
Preliminary Calculation ◽  
Opening Displacement ◽  
Microstructural Refinement ◽  
Loading Mode ◽  
Microstructural Effects

In a recent investigation of microstructural effects in finite periodic multilayers, we have shown that under Mode I loading, the crack-opening displacement approaches that of the same crack in an equivalent homogenized material as the microstructure comprised of alternating stiff and soft layers becomes increasingly finer. In contrast, Mode I stress intensity factor asymptotically converges to values that depend on the stiffness of the cracked layer. Preliminary calculation of Mode I strain energy release rate as a function of the microstructural refinement suggested that this may be a better fracture mechanics parameter for assessing fracture toughness of periodic layered media. Herein, we extend the above investigation by considering both Mode I and II loading to study the effect of layer modulus ratio on fracture mechanics parameters as a function of microstructural refinement. The previously introduced concept of partial homogenization of the microstructure sufficiently far from the crack is also pursued in order to gauge its efficiency in correctly capturing fracture mechanics parameters with a minimum of computational effort. The fracture mechanics parameters are shown to be influenced by the local microstructure to an extent that depends on the layer modulus mismatch. An accurate calculation of these parameters requires the retention of several layers adjacent to the affected cracked layer whose number depends on the modulus mismatch and loading mode.

Comparative Evaluation of Fracture Mechanics Methodologies as Applied to Offshore Structural Design and Integrity Analyses

1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-484
Author(s):  
H. C. Rhee ◽  
M. M. Salama
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Structural Design ◽  
Crack Opening ◽  
Resistance Curve ◽  
Opening Displacement ◽  
Design Curve ◽  
Strain Relationship ◽  
Curve Method ◽  
Offshore Industry ◽  
Material Fracture

A comparative study was performed to evaluate the three most widely used elastic-plastic fracture mechanics methodologies. The three methods are the crack opening displacement (COD) design curve, which is widely used in the offshore industry, the British Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) R6 method, and the J-resistance curve method. Analyses of various flawed geometries based on these three methods were performed using consistent material fracture properties. The results of both the COD and R6 methods were compared with those of the J-resistance curve, which is the most rigorous of the three methods. The results of the COD concept, following BSI PD 6493 procedures, appear to be conservative at applied stress levels below 60 percent of the material yield strength and unconservative above this value. However, the results of the R6 method appear to be consistently conservative. The behavior of COD design curve solutions can be improved when the structural geometry and the actual stress-strain relationship are properly considered in the analyses.

A Method of J Testing Based on Crack Opening Displacement for Circumferential Through-Wall Cracked Pipes under Combined Tension and Bending

2006 ◽  
Vol 110 ◽  
pp. 63-70
Author(s):  
Nam Su Huh ◽  
Ludwig Stumpfrock ◽  
Eberhard Roos ◽  
Yun Jae Kim ◽  
Young Jin Kim
Keyword(s):  
Crack Opening Displacement ◽  
Conventional Method ◽  
Crack Opening ◽  
Estimation Method ◽  
Combined Loading ◽  
Resistance Curve ◽  
Opening Displacement ◽  
Load Line ◽  
Load Line Displacement ◽  
Leak Before Break

Application of the leak-before-break concept to nuclear piping requires accurate fracture mechanics assessment on pipes with postulated circumferential through-wall crack subject to combined tension and bending. One important element is determination of relevant J-resistance curve for pipes under combined loading. This paper provides experimental J estimation method for the circumferential through-wall cracked pipe under combined tension and bending, based on the load-crack opening displacement (COD) record to estimate J-resistance curve. To give confidence in the proposed method, the J results from detailed elastic-plastic finite element (FE) analysis are also compared with estimated J based not only on proposed method but also on conventional method using load-load line displacement, which shows that estimated J based on the proposed method provides reliable J estimates regardless of analysis condition, on the other hand, the conventional method using the load-load line displacement record gives erroneous results for shallow cracks.

Fracture mechanics characterisation of crack growth under creep conditions

1988 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Hollstein ◽  
R Kienzler
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Mechanics ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Crack Opening ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Creep Crack Growth ◽  
Constant Load ◽  
Opening Displacement ◽  
Creep Crack ◽  
Incoloy 800 ◽  
Three Dimensional Finite Element

Creep crack growth rates in the 32%−Ni−20%−Cr alloy Incoloy 800 H at 800°C are correlated with the fracture mechanics parameter C∗ integral. This was done by experimental and numerical investigations of different specimen sizes and geometries under constant load, constant rate of crack opening displacement or crosshead displacement, or slow cyclic loading. In the numerical simulations plane and three-dimensional finite element calculations have been performed without consideration of creep crack growth.

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