Papers by Keyword: Fracture Probability

Abstract: The steels fracture toughness was measured at two different temperature T= - 60°C and T = -90°C, at v=0.02 mm/min and v=0.5mm/min. The following steels: CrMoV, 20MnMoNi55, A533B and A508 were tested with three different sizes of CT specimens 50 and 100 and 200. Those steels are weldable, although the authors investigated the fracture behaviour of base material. In order to satisfy statistical analyses, a large number of specimens were tested. Fracture behaviour has turned out to be typical, S-shaped curve for transitional fracture at low temperatures. Apart from the other variables, specimen’s width significantly affects measured toughness. Smaller specimens, CT50, might be considered of upper bound reliability while the CT200 specimens were shown to be the most conservative. In this way it has been shown that wider specimens are more reliable in a fracture assessment of the examined steels. In this paper, the fracture probabilities of specimens in function of fracture toughness were determined as well, and it could be concluded that the widest specimens are the most likely to be broken for the same values of the fracture toughness.

Abstract: Several cracks were found on some actual floating roofs of a crude oil tank in the oil refinery located in southern Japan. We assumed that one of reasons would be due to thermal stress caused by temperature changes during the day. In order to consider whether the thermal stress could the cause damages on the floating roof, strain and temperature were measured on the actual floating roof by using optical fiber gauges. Furthermore, fracture possibility due to thermal stress was calculated to discuss whether thermal stress could cause fracture or not. As a result, the probability showed that thermal stresswasnot enough to cause fracture. Anotherexternal factor such as Typhoon could be related.

Abstract: This paper demonstrates sensitive analyses of probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) for reactor pressure vessel (RPV) during pressurized thermal shock (PTS) loading, and comparison of our calculation with the results of the international round robin (RR) analyses in Asian countries (Korea, Taiwan and Japan). The international Round Robin activity was performed in PFM sub-committees in the Atomic Energy Research Committee of Japan Welding Engineering Society (JWES) in conjunction with Korea and Taiwan research groups. The purposes of this program are to establish reliable procedures to evaluate fracture probability of reactor pressure vessels during pressurized thermal shock and to maintain the continuous cooperation among Asian institutes in the probabilistic approach to nuclear safety. Some parameters to RPV failure probabilities are chosen to evaluate their significance quantatively. The differences caused by selection of analyzing programs and some input parameters will be discussed.

Abstract: Firstly, according to the theory of dual variable, a procedure of the calculating fracture probability of the pressure vessel is presented. Secondly, according to the results of calculating the random numbers of the parameters in the fracture probability model, the dual variable method for the fracture probability of pressure vessel is proved to be a good technical to reduce variance. Finally, the results between the simple sampling and the dual variable method showed that dual variable method is very simple and can be widely used in engineering.

Abstract: Graphite materials are used for structural components in the core of high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) because of their excellent thermo/mechanical properties. When the core temperature is raised at an accident, the thermal stress of the components is induced, and it enhances the fracture probability of them. In general, the thermal conductivity of graphite is decreased by neutron irradiation due to irradiation-induced defects preventing heat conduction by phonon. It is hence expected that decreased thermal conductivity is recovered to some extent by thermal annealing at the accident. Therefore, the consideration of the thermal annealing effect is placed as much important subject in the fracture/strength evaluation of the graphite components at the accident. In the present study, the thermal stress and the fracture probability of graphite components influenced by the thermal annealing were investigated by a finite element method (FEM) analysis. It was shown that the annealing effect decreases the thermal stress and a certain level of the fracture probability.

Abstract: The carbon fiber reinforced carbon-carbon composite (C/C composite) is one of the candidates due to its excellent thermal stability as well as high strength. A two-dimensional C/C composite has great anisotropy in those properties in with- and across- fiber directions. It is, therefore, important to consider the anisotropy for the stress evaluation and for the fracture probability of the components. In the present study, FEM analyses on deformation and stress of the component were carried out taking account of the anisotropy. In addition, the fracture probability of the components was evaluated by the statistical fracture theory. It was found that anisotropy affect the thermal stress and the risk of rupture.