Papers by Keyword: IGSCC

Abstract: The paper aims at demonstration of reduction in residual stress, distortion and sensitisation in austenitic stainless steel pipe welds. The welding processes considered are Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) and Shielded Metal Arc welding (SMAW) along with Hot wire GTAW with narrow gap welding technique. It was shown that residual stress is significantly reduced in case of hot wire GTAW. The reduction in residual stress is due to the low heat input and high deposition rate. Lower heat input leads to higher cooling rate giving more margins on sensitization in heat affected zone (HAZ). This has been confirmed by measuring temperature and cooling rate during welding in HAZ of the weld joints. Susceptibility to sensitization of the welds has been compared by carrying out ASTM E262 Practice A and E along with Electo-Potentiokinetic Reactivation (EPR) method. The results of the tests show that values are within acceptable limit for both the cases. However, hot wire GTAW has marginally better sensitization resistance. Fatigue crack growth rate and fracture resistance behavior of the above mentioned weld joints have been compared by carrying out tests on the specimens (Compact Tension) and full scale pipe welds with crack. Fatigue crack growth rate and fracture toughness of the weld joints (hot wire GATW) is superior to conventional GTAW and SMAW. The paper presents the details of the above mentioned studies.

Abstract: Intergranular Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) of austenitic Stainless Steels (SS) in Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) environment is generic in nature in both the sensitised and the non-sensitized conditions. IGSCC in non-sensitized austenitic SS in the strain hardened condition has been reported without any grain boundary chromium depletion or impurity segregation. The present study ascertains the reason for IGSCC in BWR environment in non-sensitized condition and investigates the effect of nitrogen content in SS on the susceptibility to IGSCC. Two heats of type 304LN stainless steel with 0.08 and 0.16 wt. % nitrogen were used. Strain hardening was done by cross rolling at 200 °C to 20 % thickness reduction (warm rolling) to simulate the weld induced strain in constrained welds. Subsequently, Transmission Electron Microscopic (TEM) examination was carried out on the rolled SS. The deformation mode observed due to warm rolling was predominantly elongated twin and shear band (SB) formation in both the SS, terminating at the grain boundary regions. This resulted in higher stresses and strains making grain boundary susceptible to IGSCC. Presence of more dislocations at grain boundaries is a key feature for such enhancement in the susceptibility of non-sensitized SS to IGSCC. Formation of twins and SB occurred to a greater extent in the SS with higher nitrogen content indicating greater susceptibility to IGSCC in BWR environment. Crack growth studies done in simulated BWR environment at different Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels showed higher crack growth rates in the SS with higher nitrogen content in the non-sensitised and strain hardened condition, confirming the higher susceptibility of SS with a higher level of nitrogen.

Abstract: The implementations of RI-ISI can improve the substantial cost reductions as well as dose reduction. From the points of the safety concern, the achievements of these procedures can identify the inspection rank to promote the integrity of the present inspection program. Thus, this paper presents the applications of RI-ISI to recirculation piping welds sensitized to IGSCC of Taiwan BWR-4 nuclear power plant. The establishment of the risk evaluation can be referenced for the regulatory and plant maintenance.

Abstract: Grain boundary properties are known to affect the intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) and irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking behavior of austenitic alloys in high temperature water. However, it is only recently that sufficient evidence has accumulated to show that the disposition of deformation in and near the grain boundary plays a key role in intergranular cracking. Grain boundaries that can transmit strain to adjacent grains can relieve stresses without undergoing localized deformation. Grain boundaries that cannot transmit strain will either experience high stresses or high strains. High stresses can lead to wedge-type cracking and sliding can lead to rupture of the protective oxide film. These processes are also applicable to irradiated materials in which the deformation can become highly localized in the form of dislocation channels and deformation twins. These deformation bands conduct tremendous amounts of strain to the grain boundaries. The capability of a boundary to transmit strain to a neighboring grain will determine its propensity for cracking, analogous to that in unirradiated metals. Thus, IGSCC in unirradiated materials and IASCC in irradiated materials are governed by the same local processes of stress and strain accommodation at the boundary.