Weibull Stress Analysis for an Embedded Crack in Reactor Pressure Vessels under Pressurized Thermal Shock

Abstract:

This paper describes the Weibull stress approach in predicting the cumulative probability of cleavage fracture for an axially embedded crack in the wall of a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) subjected to a thermal-mechanical transient typical for an accidental, pressurized thermal shock (PTS) event. This study demonstrates the need for detailed elastic-plastic analyses in the integrity assessment of RPVs under PTS loadings, and proposes both a simplified approach and a refined approach to assess the probability of fracture for RPVs subjected to such events.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volumes 385-387)
• Pages: 773-776
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.385-387.773
• Online since: July 2008
• Authors: Xu Dong Qian, Robert H. Dodds Jr.
• Keywords: Cleavage Fracture, Ductile-to-Brittle Transition, Embedded Crack, Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS), Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV), Weibull Stress

References

[1] F.M. Beremin: Metallur. Trans. Vol 14(a) (1983), p.2277.

[2] J.P. Petti, R.H. Jr. Dodds: Engng. Fract. Mech., Vol 71 (2004), p. (2079).

[3] ASTM E-1921. (2002).

[4] B. Wasiluk, J.P. Petti, and R.H. Jr. Dodds: Engng. Fract. Mech., Vol 71 (2006), p.1046.

10 50.

[30] 20 40.

[2] [0] [10] [6] [8] [4] m = 10 m = 15 m = 18 m = 20 -1. 0 -0. 5 1. 0 0. 5 0 2. 0.

1. 0 1. 5 0. 5 t = 0 t = 10 min t = 18 min m = 20 t (minutes) 2φ/π Pf (%) σw /σys (a).

10 20 30 40 50 2. 0 1. 5 1. 0 0. 5.

t (minutes) σw /σys.

[20] [10] [15] [5] [0] 10 50.

[30] 20 40 t (minutes) Pf (%) (b) t = 18 min m = 10 m = 15 m = 18 m = 20 m = 10 m = 15 m = 18 m = 20.