SEDL / STP / STP697-EB / STP35079S

Acoustic Emission Measurements: HSST V-7B Intermediate Vessel Test

Hutton, PH
Senior development engineer, senior technician, and research engineer, Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, Wash

Dawson, JF
Senior development engineer, senior technician, and research engineer, Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, Wash

Kurtz, RJ
Senior development engineer, senior technician, and research engineer, Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, Wash

Pages: 25    Published: Jan 1979

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Abstract

The HSST V-7B intermediate test vessel was fabricated from 152-mm thick A533B, Class 1 steel. It was pressurized at 93°C (200°F) to 151 MPa (21 800 psig) where it failed at a flaw machined into the outer surface.

Acoustic emission (AE) generated during testing of the vessel was measured for two purposes: (1) to provide indications of distress in the vessel at locations other than the machined defect, and (2) to acquire AE data for analysis relevant to development of AE/flaw relationships for inservice reactor monitoring.

Two AE monitor systems, a Dunegan/Endevco (DE) 1032 and a Battelle Northwest (BNW) multiparameter, digital memory AE system, were used to more effectively meet the two requirements. Results and conclusions include:

∎ AE source location indications clearly followed flaw development.

∎ Growth of a flaw in 152-mm thick A533 B, Class 1 material at 93°C (200°F) produced readily detectable AE.

∎ Two separate AE monitor systems using substantially different approaches to isolating AE from the defect exhibited consistent results.

∎ AE data correlates well with stress intensity factor (K) and crack opening displacement (COD) showing a basis for relating AE to flaw severity in the pressure vessel configuration.