SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1997
STP12326S

Fracture Assessment of Weld Material From a Full-Thickness Clad RPV Shell Segment

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Fracture analysis techniques were evaluated through applications to full-thickness clad beam specimens containing shallow cracks in material for which metallurgical conditions are prototypic of those found in reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) at beginning of life. The beam specimens were fabricated from a section of an RPV wall (removed from a canceled nuclear plant) that includes weld, plate, and clad material. Metallurgical factors potentially influencing fracture toughness for shallow cracks in the beam specimens include gradients of material properties and residual stresses due to welding and cladding applications. Fracture toughness estimates were obtained from load vs load-line displacement and load vs crack-mouth-opening displacement data using finite-element techniques and estimation schemes based on the η-factor method. One of the beams experienced a significant amount of precleavage stable ductile tearing. Effects of precleavage tearing on estimates of fracture toughness were investigated using continuum damage models. Fracture toughness results from the clad beam specimens were compared with other deep- and shallow-crack single-edge notch bend (SENB) data generated previously from A 533 Grade B plate material. The range of scatter for the clad beam data is consistent with that from the laboratory-scale SENB specimens tested at the same temperature.

Author Information

Keeney, JA
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Bass, BR
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
McAfee, WJ
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
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Details
Developed by Committee: E08
Pages: 485–498
DOI: 10.1520/STP12326S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5374-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-2410-3