Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) of Nickel-Base Weld Metals in PWR Primary Water

2013 ◽  
Vol 747-748 ◽  
pp. 723-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ru Xiong ◽  
Ying Jie Qiao ◽  
Gui Liang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Stress Corrosion ◽  
Stress Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Surface Condition ◽  
Cold Work ◽  
Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Weld Metals ◽  
Surface Residual Stresses ◽  
Primary Water

This discussion reviewed the occurrence of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of alloys 182 and 82 weld metals in primary water (PWSCC) of pressurized water reactors (PWR) from both operating plants and laboratory experiments. Results from in-service experience showed that more than 340 Alloy 182/82 welds have sustained PWSCC. Most of these cases have been attributed to the presence of high residual stresses produced during the manufacture aside from the inherent tendency for Alloy 182/82 to sustain SCC. The affected welds were not subjected to a stress relief heat treatment with adjacent low alloy steel components. Results from laboratory studies indicated that time-to-cracking of Alloy 82 was a factor of 4 to 10 longer than that for Alloy 182. PWSCC depended strongly on the surface condition, surface residual stresses and surface cold work, which were consistent with the results of in-service failures. Improvements in the resistance of advanced weld metals, Alloys 152 and 52, to PWSCC were discussed.

Stress Corrosion Cracking of Nickel Weld Metals in PWR Primary Water

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ru Xiong ◽  
Yuxiang Zhao ◽  
Guiliang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Stress Corrosion ◽  
Stress Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Cold Work ◽  
Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Weld Metals ◽  
Surface Residual Stresses ◽  
Primary Water ◽  
Water Reactors

This discussion reviews the occurrence of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of Alloys 182 and 82 weld metals in primary water of pressurized water reactors (PWR) from both operating plants and laboratory experiments. Results from in-service experience show that more than 340 Alloy 182/82 welds have sustained SCC, and Alloy 182 with lower Cr have more failures than Alloy 82. Most of these cases have been attributed to the presence of high residual stresses produced during the manufacture aside from the inherent tendency for Alloy 182/82 to sustain SCC. The affected welds were not subjected to a stress relief heat treatment with adjacent low alloy steel components. Results from laboratory studies indicate that time-to-cracking of Alloy 82 (with Cr up to 18%–22%) was a factor of 4 to 10 longer than that for Alloy 182. SCC depends strongly on surface conditions, surface residual stresses and surface cold work, which are consistent with the results of in-service failures. Improvements in the resistance of advanced weld metals, Alloys 152 and 52, to SCC are discussed.

Weld Residual Stresses and Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking in Bimetal Nuclear Pipe Welds

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick W. Brust ◽  
Paul M. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Weld Metal ◽  
Stress Corrosion ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Stress Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Primary Water

There have been incidents recently where cracking has been observed in the bi-metallic welds that join the hot leg to the reactor pressure vessel nozzle. The hot leg pipes are typically large diameter, thick wall pipes. Typically, an inconel weld metal is used to join the ferritic pressure vessel steel to the stainless steel pipe. The cracking, mainly confined to the inconel weld metal, is caused by corrosion mechanisms. Tensile weld residual stresses, in addition to service loads, contribute to PWSCC (Primary Water Stress Corrosion Cracking) crack growth. In addition to the large diameter hot leg pipe, cracking in other piping components of different sizes has been observed. For instance, surge lines and spray line cracking has been observed that has been attributed to this degradation mechanism. Here we present some models which are used to predict the PWSCC behavior in nuclear piping. This includes weld model solutions of bimetal pipe welds along with an example calculation of PWSCC crack growth in a hot leg. Risk based considerations are also discussed.

NRC/EPRI Residual Stress Validation Program Phase I: Experimental Specimen Modeling and Measurement

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Broussard ◽  
P. Crooker
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Stress Corrosion ◽  
Stress Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Welding Residual Stress ◽  
Hole Drilling ◽  
Pressurized Water

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) are working cooperatively under a memorandum of understanding to validate welding residual stress predictions in pressurized water reactor primary cooling loop components containing dissimilar metal welds. These stresses are of interest as DM welds in pressurized water reactors are susceptible to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) and tensile weld residual stresses are one of the primary drivers of this stress corrosion cracking mechanism. The NRC/EPRI weld residual stress (WRS) program currently consists of four phases, with each phase increasing in complexity from lab size specimens to component mock-ups and ex-plant material. This paper describes the Phase 1 program, which comprised an initial period of learning and research for both FEA methods and measurement techniques using simple welded specimens. The Phase 1 specimens include a number of plate and cylinder geometries, each designed to provide a controlled configuration for maximum repeatability of measurements and modeling. A spectrum of surface and through-wall residual stress measurement techniques have been explored using the Phase 1 specimens, including incremental hole drilling, ring-core, and x-ray diffraction for surface stresses and neutron diffraction, deep-hole drilling, and contour method for through-wall stresses. The measured residual stresses are compared to the predicted stress results from a number of researchers employing a variety of modeling techniques. Comparisons between the various measurement techniques and among the modeling results have allowed for greater insight into the impact of various parameters on predicted versus measured residual stress. This paper will also discuss the technical challenges and lessons learned as part of the DM weld materials residual stress measurements.

Stress Corrosion Cracking Behavior of Alloy 182 Weld in Pressurized Water Reactor Primary Water Environment at 325ºC

CORROSION ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
pp. 085004-1-085004-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.I.L. Lima ◽  
M.M.A.M. Schvartzman ◽  
C.A. Figueiredo ◽  
A.Q. Bracarense
Keyword(s):  
Stress Corrosion ◽  
Oxide Layer ◽  
Stress Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Cracking Behavior ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Primary Water

Abstract The weld used to connect two different metals is known as a dissimilar metal weld (DMW). In nuclear power plants, this weld is used to join stainless steel to low-alloy steel components in the nuclear pressurized water reactor (PWR). The most common weld metal is Alloy 182 (UNS W86182). Originally selected for its high corrosion resistance, it exhibited, after a long operation period, susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in PWR. The goal of this work was to study the electrochemical corrosion behavior and SCC susceptibility of Alloy 182 weld in PWR primary water containing 25 cm3 and 50 cm3 H2/kg H2O at standard temperature and pressure (STP). For this purpose, slow strain rate tensile (SSRT) tests and potentiodynamic polarization measurements were carried out. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS) was used to evaluate fracture morphology and determine the oxide layer chemical composition and morphology. The results indicated that at 325°C Alloy 182 weld is more susceptible to SCC at 25 cm3 (STP) H2/kg H2O and the increase of dissolved hydrogen decreased the crystal size of the oxide layer.

An Analytical Evaluation of the Effect of Weld Material Thickness on Residual Stresses Produced by Structural Weld Overlays on Pressurized Water Reactor Primary Cooling Piping

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. F. Fredette ◽  
Paul M. Scott ◽  
F. W. Brust ◽  
A. Csontos
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Stress Corrosion ◽  
Stress Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Corrosion Cracking ◽  
Intergranular Stress Corrosion ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Weld Overlay ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Structural Reinforcement

Full Structural Weld Overlay (FSWOL) has been used successfully to mitigate intergranular stress corrosion cracking in boiling water reactor (BWR) welded stainless steel piping for many years. The FSWOL technique adds structural reinforcement, can add crack resistant material, and can create compressive residual stresses at the inside surface of the welded joint which reduces the possibility of further stress corrosion cracking. Recently, the FSWOL has been applied as a preemptive measure to prevent primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) in pressurized water reactors (PWR) on susceptible welded pipes with dissimilar metal welds common to PWR primary cooling piping. This study uses finite element models to evaluate the likely residual and operating stress profiles remaining after FSWOL and describes the results of sensitivity studies which were performed to examine the effect of weld overlay thickness on the residual stresses for typical dissimilar metal weld configurations.

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