Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Dissimilar Metal Weld A508/52M/316L Used in Nuclear Power Plants

2011 ◽  
Vol 479 ◽  
pp. 40-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Wei Fang ◽  
Guan Jun Li ◽  
Guang Fu Li ◽  
Wu Yang ◽  
Mao Long Zhang ◽  
...  

The microstructures and mechanical properties of a dissimilar metal weld A508/52M/316L used in the primary water system of pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plants were investigated. The weld exhibits complicated microstructures, with significant change around the interfaces A508/52M and 52M/316L. The variations of main elements in 52M weld metal are greater than those in the A508 and 316L, with significant changes in the zones closed to the interfaces. The bulk 52M weld metal has higher and more uneven hardness than both of the base metals A508 and 316L. The HAZ of A508 exhibits the highest hardness value in the weld. The area around the A508/52M interface is the most weak part for stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance of the weld in simulated PWR primary water at 290°C. SCC was only found in the specimens tested at +200mV(SHE) but not in those tested at both -780mV and Ecorr (about -500mV).

2015 ◽  
Vol 1088 ◽  
pp. 169-173
Author(s):  
Guang Fu Li ◽  
Ke Wei Fang ◽  
Jun Xu

The effects of environmental factors on the electrochemical behaviors of the materials 52M and 316L taken from a dissimilar metal weld exposed to high temperature primary water of pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plants were studied experimentally, mainly on the effects of impurities chloride and sulfate in water, temperature and dissolved oxygen on the polarization curves, in order to provide fundamental data for relevant research and development. The results showed that doping chloride and sulfate into the water caused the rise of the tendency to pitting and general corrosion tendencies of both materials. With the rise of temperature from 160 °C to 290 °C, the tendencies to corrosion in anodic condition increased. The rise of the dissolved oxygen led to the rises of both the corrosion potentials and also the tendencies to corrosion.


Author(s):  
Takashi Ota ◽  
Koji Dozaki

On September 2007, Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking (PWSCC) flaws were found on the dissimilar metal weld of the steam generator (SG) inlet pipe nozzles of Tsuruga-2. Following the Tsuruga-2, similar cases were found in some other plants. These cracks were located in inaccessible regions by Ultrasonic Testing (UT) examination applied from the outer surface. Triggered by these cases, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), Japanese regulator of nuclear industries, directed nuclear power plant owners to investigate current status of these inaccessible regions for inspection defined by rules on fitness-for-service in Japan, and required to show developing plan on alternative measures of inspection for UT-exempted welds. On the other hand, the study to manage inaccessible regions in the rules on fitness-for-service has been started. The authors consider and propose a possible approach for modified rules of inspection in order to make control of these inaccessible regions.


Crystals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1470
Author(s):  
Shuang Qi ◽  
Wenxin Xiang ◽  
Lixun Cai ◽  
Xiaokun Liu ◽  
Yonggang Wang ◽  
...  

The safe-end of a steam generator (SG) nozzle dissimilar metal weld (DMW) for pressurized water reactors (PWRs) is the weakest point of failure which is crucial for the safe operation of a nuclear power station. Related to materials micro-structures, a uniaxial stress–strain relationship is the basic input parameter for nuclear power plant design, safety evaluation, and life management. In this paper, the micro-structure and tensile mechanical properties of a DMW of a European pressurized water reactor (EPR) were studied. Vickers hardness tester, optical microscope, and electron back scatter diffraction were used to analyze the micro-structure of the DMW joint. In addition, the residual strain of the DMW joint base material, heat-affected zone, weld metal, and fusion boundary region were studied. Based on digital image correlation (DIC) technology, tensile mechanical properties of the DMW joint were obtained. The results show that an accurate tensile stress–strain relationship of dissimilar metal welded joints can be obtained by using the DIC technique, the weld is the relatively weak link, and the residual strain is concentrated in the heat-affected zone. This study provides valuable engineering information regarding nuclear power plant design, in-service performance testing, and structural analysis and evaluation of welds containing defects.


Author(s):  
Francis H. Ku ◽  
Steven L. McCracken

Weld overlay (WOL) is a popular repair technique to mitigate stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in dissimilar metal weld (DMW) in U.S. pressurized water reactor (PWR) design. The WOL technique is being considered as a SCC mitigation technique for DMW in Russian water-water energetic reactor (WWER or VVER) design. A WOL mockup on a VVER super emergency feedwater nozzle DMW has been fabricated, which represents the first WOL on VVER with the goal to mitigate SCC and the first WOL in Czech Republic civilian nuclear power plants. This paper presents the two- and three-dimensional finite element analyses performed to assess the weld residual stresses in the WOL mockup. The analysis evaluates the stress distribution and changes in the DMW before and after the WOL application, as well as compares the results to established industry guidelines and comparable WOLs on U.S. PWR.


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