Consideration of Methods Evaluating the Growing Process of Stress Corrosion Cracking of the Sensitized 18-8 Austenitic Stainless Steel in High Temperature Water Based on Electric Circuit Theory: The Effects of Stress Factors

The effect of stress factors on the growing process of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of the sensitized 18-8 stainless steel in high temperature water was investigated using equations of crack growth rate derived from applying electric circuits to SCC corrosion paths. Three kinds of cross sections have to be considered when electric circuit is constructed using total current. The first is ion flow passage area, $S_{sol}$, of solution in crack, the second is total dissolving surface area, $S_{dis}$, of metal on electrode of crack tip and the third is dissolving cross section, $S_{met}$, of metal on grain boundary or in base metal or in welding metal. Stress may affect each area. $S_{sol}$ may depend on applied stress, $\sigma_{\infty}$, related with crack depth. $S_{dis}$ is expressed using a factor of $\varepsilon(K)$ and may depend on stress intensity factor, K only. SCC crack growth rate is ordinarily estimated using a variable of K only as stress factor. However it may be expected that SCC crack growth rate depends on both applied stress $\sigma_{\infty}$ and K or both crack depth and K from this consideration.$\varepsilon(K)$ is expressed as ${\varepsilon}(K)=h_2{\cdot}K^2+h_3{\cdot}K^3$ when $h_{2}$ and $h_{3}$ are coefficients. Also, relationships between SCC crack growth rate, da/dt and K were simulated and compared with the literature data of JBWR-VIP-04, NRC NUREG-0313 Rev.2 and SKIFS Draft. It was pointed out in CT test that the difference of distance between a point of application of force and the end of starter notch (starting point of fatigue crack) may be important to estimate SCC crack growth rate. An anode dissolution current density was quantitatively evaluated using a derived equation.