Papers by Author: Jae Bong Lee

Abstract: A load-displacement curve from a small punch test includes several useful information that is related to standard test properties such as the tensile property, fracture toughness and ductilebrittle transition temperature. In this study, the empirical relationship between the material property factors in SP curves and the tensile curves has been investigated by comparing test results and finite element analysis results. SP and tensile tests and finite element analyses were performed for several Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steels with different manufacturing processes. It was found that the yield loads (Py) in the SP curves, if they were adequately defined, were linearly related to the yield strength (σ0). The yield loads defined from the intersection point of two lines tangent to the elastic bending region and plastic bending region showed a better relation with the yield strength than those from the offset line. The slope of the SP curves from the simulation results had a close correlation with the hardening coefficient and strength constant as well.

Abstract: The critical fracture stresses (σ* f(sp)) in various low alloy steels for a reactor pressure vessel(RPV) were evaluated by a small punch test (SP test) and a finite element analysis (FEA) in the cleavage temperature region(-150~-196 °C). The load-displacement curves and distances from the center to the fracture surface (Df) of the FEA results are in good agreement with the experimental results. The maximum principal stresses (SP fracture stresses, σf(SP)) were determined from the FE analysis, when the maximum load was applied to the SP test. The SP critical fracture stress, σ* f(sp) in various reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels was found to have a linear relationship with the values obtained from the precracked specimens (σ* f(PCVN)). The σ* f(sp) shows a lower value than σ* f(PCVN) because the SP specimen had a lower triaxial stress condition. However, this result indicates that a small punch test could be a useful method to evaluate the cleavage fracture behavior of low alloy steels.

Abstract: A statistical assessment model for structural integrity of steam generator tubes with axial cracks at the top of the tubesheet was proposed using Monte Carlo method. In the model, a method for estimating the number of "real cracks" from in-situ inspection (ISI) data was used. Based on the estimated "real cracks", the number of newly detected cracks and growth of cracks during arbitrary operating period were simulated using the Monte Carlo method. The flaw growth rate used in the simulation was statistically calculated from the periodic in-service non-destructive inspection data. The number of cracks, the probabilistic distribution of crack sizes at the end of next operating interval and the probability of burst during operation were calculated from numerously repeated simulations using the proposed model.