ISSN: 1945-7553
CODEN: JTEVAB
Page Count: 7

Influence of Material Property Variations on the Assessment of Structural Integrity of Nuclear Components

Chirigos, JN
Manager and engineer, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Meyer, TA
Manager and engineer, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Abstract

The question, “Where can the generation of new material property data reduce overly conservative design in reactor systems?” presently exists in the nuclear industry. The question is answered by identifying where conservatism exists relative to determining material property variations. Several areas are reviewed to identify conservatism and the sensitivity of structural integrity evaluation results to the property variations. The areas reviewed were fluence dependence of the transition temperature, fracture toughness, the drop in upper shelf toughness, the arrest toughness, the material thermal properties, and the fatigue crack growth rate.

Keywords:
nuclear reactors, mechanical properties, fatigue (materials), fracture mechanics, fracture toughness, structural integrity, transition temperature, arrest toughness, fatigue crack growth, nuclear plant heat-up and cool-down, reactor vessel accident analysis, upper shelf toughness

Paper ID: JTE10566J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE10566J
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