Determination Method of Elasto-Plastic Correction Factor of TA16 Titanium Alloy Based On RCC-M Code Methodology

In the code for nuclear equipment, the elasto-plastic correction factor KE is a correction factor when the stress range exceeds the yield limit for simplified elasto-plastic fatigue analysis. The parameters and expressions of KE for commonly used materials (such as austenitic stainless steel) are given in the RCC-M and ASME code, but the parameters of KE for titanium alloy materials is lacking. Based on the cyclic elasto-plastic constitutive model of Z2CND18.12 (nitrogen control) and KE parameters of austenitic stainless steel given in the code, considering various sensitive factors, a numerical calculation method for determining KE correlation coefficient is established. The elasto-plastic constitutive model of TA16 alloy with nonlinear kinematic hardening was established by the uniaxial tension, strain and stress cycling tests of TA16 titanium alloy. Based on the numerical calculation method of KE and the constitutive model of TA16 titanium alloy, the expression and correlation coefficient of KE for TA16 titanium alloy were determined.

Effects of Plasticity on the Stress Intensity Factor Evaluation for Underclad Crack Under Pressurized Thermal Shock Events

When the structural integrity of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) under pressurized thermal shock (PTS) events is assessed, an underclad crack is postulated at the inner surface of RPV and the stress intensity factor (SIF) corresponding to the driving force of non-ductile crack propagation, is evaluated for this crack. On the inner surface of RPV, cladding of the stainless steel is overlay-welded as a means for corrosion protection. Because the cladding is a ductile material, it is important to evaluate the SIF for postulated underclad crack considering the plasticity of cladding. A SIF evaluation method, which takes the effect of plasticity into account using a plastic correction method, has been established in France. In this study, we examined the SIF evaluation method established in France for underclad cracks during PTS transients. The elastic and elastic-plastic analyses based on the finite element method considering PTS events and inner pressure were performed using three-dimensional models including an underclad semi-elliptical crack with different geometry. We discussed the conservativeness of plastic correction method based on the analysis results.