Effect of cyclic loading on IASCC stress threshold of thimble tube material with a dose up to 80 dpa under PWR conditions

Rik-Wouter Bosch, Milan Konstantinovic, Marc Vankeerberghen, Robert Gérard, Frédéric Somville

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    IASCC (Irradiation Assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking) crack initiation tests were carried out on thimble tube material (≤ 80 dpa) retrieved from a Belgian PWR. The crack initiation tests were carried out by cyclic load testing of thimble tube specimens at different stress levels in a PWR environment. The time-to-failure was determined as a function of the applied stress to find a stress limit under which no stress corrosion cracking would take place. With these new results it is possible to compare constant load data of the previous test campaign with cyclic load data and find out what is the detrimental effect of load transients on the time-to-failure. The results of the cyclic loading tests showed that the failures occurred at a significantly lower average stress than under constant load conditions. This effect was more pronounced at lower stress levels.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationInternational Symposium Contribution of Materials Investigations and Operating Experience to Light Water NPPs’ Safety, Performance and Reliability
    PublisherUnknown
    Pages1-11
    Number of pages11
    StatePublished - 17 Sep 2018
    Event2018 - FONTEVRAUD 9: Contribution of Materials Investigations and Operating Experience to Light Water NPPs’ Safety, Performance and Reliability - Palais des Papes, Avignon
    Duration: 17 Sep 201820 Sep 2018
    http://www.sfen-fontevraud9.org/

    Conference

    Conference2018 - FONTEVRAUD 9
    Country/TerritoryFrance
    City Avignon
    Period2018-09-172018-09-20
    Internet address

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