Evaluation of Fracture Resistance Characteristic for Primary Piping System of Ulchin 3,4 Nuclear Power Plants

울진 원자력 발전소 3, 4호기 1차계통 배관소재의 파괴저항특성 평가

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the fracture resistance characteristics of SA508 CL.1a carbon steel, TP347 stainless steel and their associated welds manufactured for primary coolant system of Ulchin 3,4 nuclear power plants. The effect of various parameters such as pipe size, welding method, chemical composition, crack plane orientation, metallography and fractography on the material properties were discussed. Test results showed that the effect of pipe size on fracture toughness is negligible while the effect of welding method on fracture toughness is significant. In addition, the drop of fracture toughness in the field fabrication weld of TP347 stainless steel is probably due to the large amount of $\sigma$-phase precipitated on the $\delta$-ferrite boundary and the large size dimples.