Effect of Finite Element Model on the Integrity Evaluation of Nuclear Piping

유한요소 해석모델이 원자력 배관의 건전성 평가에 미치는 영향

Recently, the J/T analysis based on elastic-plastic finite element analysis is popularly used in the nuclear industry to assess the integrity of a cracked pipe. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effect of stress-strain curve for weld metal, variation of crack incremental length(${\delta}a$), and crack face pressure on the J/T analysis result. For this purpose, a parametric analysis was performed and the results calculated from finite element analysis were compared with those from the piping experimental data(stainless steel weldment pipe with circumferential through-wall crack). The numerical result using base metal material property is in agreement with the experimental one and the maximum load is decreased as the ${\delta}a$ for J/T analysis is increased.