This paper presents sensitivity analysis results of strain on notches under cycling loading to 2-D finite element density considering plasticity. Cylindrical notched specimens having some stress concentrations were modeled with 2-D axisymmetrical finite element having various finite element densities. Elasto-plastic finite element analysis was performed for the various finite element models subjected to cycling loading considering plasticity. The finite element analysis results were compared to investigate sensitivity of the finite element analysis variables such as von-Mises effective stress, accumulated equivalent plastic strain, and equivalent plastic strain to 2-D finite element density. As a result of the comparison, it was found that the accumulated equivalent plastic strain is more sensitive than the others whereas the von-Mises effective stress is much less sensitive.

The seat leakage test is required after the maintenance work on the valve seat. Either the test has been performed outside of the plant after cutting the valve from the pipe system or the simplified test has been performed so far. It was unable to perform the test at the plant site because it is hard to make a steady pressure on the valve inlet when it is installed in the pipe. This research aims to perform the leakage test in the nuclear power plant while it is installed in the pipe system. The mock-up test is performed by pressurizing the leak-off pipe on the valve body. The result is compared with traditional test result by pressurizing the valve inlet. Furthermore the chamber mock-up tests are performed under various conditions. The leak rate by the developed test using the leak-off pipe is found to be similar but greater than the leak rate by the existing test method. It implies that the test using the leak-off pipe is more conservative than the existing test. The methodology and the equipment which this paper suggests that on-site seat test is possible and the application of the technology could reduce the time and cost for the valve maintenance work significantly.

This study aims to develop an improved evaluation technology for assessing CANDU-6 safety. For this purpose, the multiple steam generator tube rupture (mSGTR) followed by an unmitigated station blackout (SBO) in a CANDU-6 plant was selected as a hypothetical event scenario and the analysis model to evaluate the plant responses was envisioned into the MARS-KS input model. The model includes logic models for controlling the pressure and inventory of the primary heat transport system (PHTS) decreasing due to the u-tubes' rupture, as well as the main features of PHTS with a simplified model for the horizontal fuel channels, the secondary heat transport system including the shell side of steam generators, feedwater and main steam line, and moderator system. A steady state condition was successfully achieved to confirm the stable convergence of the key parameters. Until the turbine trip, the fuel channels were adequately cooled by forced circulation of coolant and supply of main feedwater. However, due to the continuous reduction of PHTS pressure and inventory, the reactor and turbine were shut down and the thermal-hydraulic behaviors between intact and broken loops got asymmetric. Furthermore, as the conditions of low-flow coolant and high void fraction in the broken loop persisted, leading to degradation of decay heat removal, it was evaluated that the peak cladding temperature (PCT) exceeded the limit criteria for ensuring nuclear fuel integrity. This study is expected to provide the technical bases to the accident management strategy for transient conditions with multiple events.

The flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) is one of significant aging and degradation mechanism and can affect structural integrity of CANDU feeder pipes. Pipe burst can occur under normal operation pressure (min. 10 MPa) if wall-thinning of the feeder pipe due to FAC is accumulated. Previous studies considered simple shapes of feeder pipe with local wall-thinning in order to conservatively assess structural integrity of wall-thinned feeder pipe. In this paper, a new FE model is developed, having an actual shape of the feeder pipe (double bent) as well as the actual wall-thinning shape and location based on the in-service inspection result. Then, the burst pressure assessment of the wall-thinned feeder pipe is performed using lower bound limit load analysis considering elastic-perfectly plastic material. In addition, an improved formulation to predict the burst pressure of the wall-thinned feeder pipe is presented and the safety margin is compared with an existing assessment method.

As the material aging of nuclear power plants has been progressing in domestic and overseas, crack growth becomes one of the most important issues. In this respect, the crack growth assessment has been considered an essential part of structural integrity. The crack growth assessment for nuclear power plants has been generally performed based on ASME B&PV Code, Sec. XI but the idealization of crack shape and the conservative solutions of stress intensity factor (SIF) are used. Although finite element analysis (FEA) based on iterative crack growth analysis is considered as an alternative method to simulate crack growth, there are yet no guidelines to model the crack-tip spider-web mesh for such analysis. In this study, effects of various meshing factors on FE SIF calculation are systematically examined. Based on FEA results, proper criteria for spider-web mesh in crack-tip are suggested. The validation of SIF calculation method through mapping initial stress field is investigated to consider initial residual stress on crack growth. The iterative crack-tip modeling program to simulate crack growth is developed using the proposed criteria for spider-web mesh design. The SIF results from the developed program are validated by comparing with those from technical reports of other institutes.

In this paper, an application example for fitness-for-service of material is shown. A kind of instrument valve is made of austenitic stainless steel fabricated by the cold working process. The tensile strength of the cold worked austenitic stainless steel has to be limited under 90 ksi to prevent the stress corrosion cracking in power plants. In industrial fields, tensile strengths of some materials were discovered to be over the regulation requirements in a certified material test report (CMTR). Owner's verification tests were performed to compare with that in a CMTR and to check the appropriateness. It is found that, in the case of verification test under the required test speed, valve materials could be used in the field. Although it is only one application sample of material check process in the power generation site, this case study could show an importance of basic experimental technology in academia and research circles.

The feedwater ring is an assembly in steam generator internal piping, which distributes feedwater into the secondary side of the steam generator. It consists of an assembly of carbon steel piping, pipe fittings and J-nozzles which are inserted into the top of the feedwater ring and welded to the diameter of the ring. The feedwater ring at the attachment region of the J-nozzle may be susceptible to flow accelerated corrosion (FAC) due to flow turbulence which increases local fluid velocities. If a J-nozzle becomes a loose part, it can cause damage to tubing near the tube sheet. In this paper, the structural stress analysis for a wall thinned feedwater ring and integrity evaluations under assumed loading conditions are carried out in compliance with ASME B&PV SecIII, NB-3200.