• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.178-182
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• 2003

Slow Strain Rate Tests (SSRT) were carried out to investigate the effect of environmental factors on the Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) susceptibility of 3.5NiCrMoV steels used in discs for Low-Pressure (LP) steam turbines in electric power generating plants. The influences of dissolved oxygen on the stress corrosion cracking of turbine steel were studied, For this purpose, specimens were strained at variously oxygenated conditions at $150^{\circ}C$ in pure water. When the specimen was strained with $1{\times}10^{-7}s^{-1}$ at $150^{\circ}C$ in pure water, increasing concentration of dissolved oxygen decreased the elongation and the UTS. The corrosion potential and the corrosion rare increased as the amounts of dissolved oxygen increased. The increase of the SCC susceptibility of the turbine steel in a highly dissolved oxygen environment is due to the non protectiveness of the oxide layer on the turbine steel surface and the increase of the corrosion current. These results clearly indicate that oxygen concentration increases Stress Corrosion Cracking susceptibility in turbine steel at $150^{\circ}C$.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.997-1018
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• 2015

Structural health monitoring along with damage detection and assessment of its severity level in non-accessible reinforced concrete members using piezoelectric materials becomes essential since engineers often face the problem of detecting hidden damage. In this study, the potential of the detection of flexural damage state in the lower part of the mid-span area of a simply supported reinforced concrete beam using piezoelectric sensors is analytically investigated. Two common severity levels of flexural damage are examined: (i) cracking of concrete that extends from the external lower fiber of concrete up to the steel reinforcement and (ii) yielding of reinforcing bars that occurs for higher levels of bending moment and after the flexural cracking. The purpose of this investigation is to apply finite element modeling using admittance based signature data to analyze its accuracy and to check the potential use of this technique to monitor structural damage in real-time. It has been indicated that damage detection capability greatly depends on the frequency selection rather than on the level of the harmonic excitation loading. This way, the excitation loading sequence can have a level low enough that the technique may be considered as applicable and effective for real structures. Further, it is concluded that the closest applied piezoelectric sensor to the flexural damage demonstrates higher overall sensitivity to structural damage in the entire frequency band for both damage states with respect to the other used sensors. However, the observed sensitivity of the other sensors becomes comparatively high in the peak values of the root mean square deviation index.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.112-119
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• 2014

In this work, it is aimed to develop the fabrication method of axial stress corrosion cracking (SCC) defects having various sizes, on the outer diameter surface of the steam generator (SG) tubings. To control the length of the artificial SCC defect, the specific area of the SG tubing samples was exposed to an acidic solution after a sensitization heat treatment. During the exposure to an acidic solution, a direct current potential drop (DCPD) method was adopted to monitor the crack depth. The size of the SCC defect was first evaluated by an eddy current test (ECT), and then confirmed by a destructive examination. From the comparison, it was found that the actual crack length was well controlled to be similar to the length of the surface exposed to an acidic solution (5, 10, 20 or 30 mm in this work) with small standard deviation. From in-situ monitoring of the crack depth using the DCPD method, it was possible to distinguish a non-through wall crack from a through wall crack, even though the depth of the non-through wall crack was not able to be precisely controlled. The fabrication method established in this work was useful to simulate the SCC defect having similar size and ECT signals as compared to the field cracks in the SG tubings of the operating Korean PWRs.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.738-747
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• 2018

For the aerospace structural application of high-strength 2xxx series aluminum alloys, stress corrosion cracking(SCC) behavior in aggressive environments needs to be well understood. In this study, the SCC sensitivities of 2024-T62, 2124-T851 and 2050-T84 alloys in a 3.5 % NaCl solution are measured using a constant load testing method without polarization and a slow strain rate test(SSRT) method at a strain rate of 10-6 /sec under a cathodic applied potential. When the specimens are exposed to a 3.5 % NaCl solution under a constant load for 10 days, the decrease in tensile ductility is negligible for 2124-T851 and 2050-T84 specimens, proving that T8 heat treatment is beneficial in improving the SCC resistance of 2xxx series aluminum alloys. The specimens are also susceptible to SCC in a hydrogen-generating environment at a slow strain rate of $10^{-6}/sec$ in a 3.5 % NaCl solution under a cathodic applied potential. Regardless of the test method, low impurity 2124-T851 and high Cu/Mg ratio 2050-T84 alloys are found to have relatively lower SCC sensitivity than 2024-T62. The SCC behavior of 2xxx series aluminum alloys in the 3.5 % NaCl solution is discussed based on fractographic and micrographic observations.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.329-333
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• 1994

A large number of grain boundaries were seen to crack in near-eutectic solder joints of leadless ceramic chip carriers (LLCC's) during thermal cycling at temperature ranges from -$35^{\circ}C$ to +$125^{\circ}C$ with lhr time period. One potential explanation for this type of cracking might be the presence of embrittling species on the boundary. Although there do not appear to be any instances reported in the literature of solders being embrittled by small amounts of contaminating species, the possibility of such an occurrence exists. The potential presence of impurities located at crack surfaces was inspected using Scanning Auger Microprobe(SAM) and it was found that intergranular cracking could be accomplished by the oxidation of the grain boundary. A physical model for fatigue crack growth was introduced, in which grain boundary separation took place under oxidation facilitated by sliding.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.896-903
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• 2002

The susceptibility of SCC for the weldment and PWHT specimens of HT-60 steel was evaluated using a slow strain rate method under applied potential by means of the potentiostat in synthetic seawater. In case of the parent, anodic polarization voltage was inappropriate in elongating the time to failure(TTF). -0.8V corresponding to cathodic protection range is most effective in improving the SCC resistance against corrosive environment. In case of the weldment, the values of reduction of area(ROA) and TTF at -0.68V corresponding to cathodic polarization value were 45.2% and 715,809sec which were the largest and longest life among other applied potentials. Those were vise versa at -1.1V. In case of the PWHT specimens, TTF and ROA at -0.68V was longest and largest like the weldment. Besides, PWHT is effective in prolonging the time to failure of the welded off-shore structure due to softening of effect. Regardless of the weldment and PWHT specimen, as corrosion rate gets higher, TTF becomes shorter and deformation behaviour for the weldment and PWHT specimen at -1.1V was shown to be irregular. Finally, it was found that specimens showed brittle fracture at -1.1V, but more ductile fracture accompanying the micro-cracks at applied potential of -0.68V.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.82-87
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• 2003

Stress corrosion cracking of Alloy 600 and Alloy 690 has been studied with a C-ring specimen in 1%, 10% and 40% NaOH at $315^{\circ}C$. SCC test was performed at 200 mV above corrosion potential. Initial stress on the apex of C-ring specimen was varied from 300 MPa to 565 MPa. Materials were heat treated at various temperatures. SCC resistance of Ni-$_\chi$Cr-10Fe alloy increased as the Cr content of the alloy increased if the density of an intergranular carbide were comparable. SCC resistance of Alloy 600 increased in caustic solution as the product of coverage of an intergranular carbide in grain boundary, intergranular carbide thickness and Cr concentration at grain boundary increased. Low temperature mill annealed Alloy 600 with small grain size and without intergranular carbide was most susceptible to SCC. TT Alloy 690 was most resistant to SCC due to the high value of the product of coverage of an intergranular carbide in grain boundary, intergranular carbide thickness and Cr concentration at grain boundary. Dependency of SCC rate on stress and NaOH concentration was obtained.

• International Journal of Highway Engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2016

PURPOSES : The objective of this paper is to understand the deterioration phenomenon and causes in the pavement of a ramp area. METHODS : Ramp areas need to be sloped because of the centrifugal force, which depends on the vehicle speed and grade of the ramp area. As a result, vertical and horizontal forces are applied on the pavement surface of the ramp area. Furthermore, the horizontal force depends on the vehicle speed and grade of the ramp area. In order to analyze the pavement structure of a ramp area, a multi-layered elastic analysis program was used to evaluate the weakest link of fatigue cracking deterioration, according to the simultaneously applied vertical and horizontal forces. RESULTS : From case studies related to the bonding conditions between the surface and base layer in a ramp area, it was found that the partially bonded cases resulted in a critical potential of fatigue cracking deterioration, in a comparison of 50%, 70%, and fully bonded cases. CONCLUSIONS : According to the results of the case studies, the pavement structure system should be reinforced by upgrading the material or increasing the thickness compared to the general pavement areas, in order to provide a performance life similar to the mainline pavements in the ramp areas.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.688-706
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• 2024

Austenitic stainless steels (ASS) are extensively employed in various sectors such as nuclear, power, petrochemical, oil and gas because of their excellent structural strength and resistance to corrosion. SS304 and SS316 are the predominant choices for piping, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, nuclear reactor core components and support structures, but they are susceptible to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in chloride-rich environments. Over the course of several decades, extensive research efforts have been directed towards evaluating SCC using diverse methodologies and models, albeit some uncertainties persist regarding the precise progression of cracks. This review paper focuses on the application of Acoustic Emission Technique (AET) for assessing SCC damage mechanism by monitoring the dynamic acoustic emissions or inelastic stress waves generated during the initiation and propagation of cracks. AET serves as a valuable non-destructive technique (NDT) for in-service evaluation of the structural integrity within operational conditions and early detection of critical flaws. By leveraging the time domain and time-frequency domain techniques, various Acoustic Emission (AE) parameters can be characterized and correlated with the multi-stage crack damage phenomena. Further theories of the SCC mechanisms are elucidated, with a focus on both the dissolution-based and cleavage-based damage models. Through the comprehensive insights provided here, this review stands to contribute to an enhanced understanding of SCC damage in stainless steels and the potential AET application in nuclear industry.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.03a
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• pp.317-326
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• 2002

Recently a simple design method for rib-reinforced seismic steel moment connections has been proposed based on equivalent strut model. An experimental program was implemented to verify the proposed design method and to develop the schemes that will prevent the cracking at the rib tip, where stress concentration was evident. All the specimens designed by the proposed method were able to develop satisfactory connection plastic rotation of 0.04 radian. Slight beam flange trimming, in addition to rib reinforcement, pushed the plastic hinging and local buckling of the beam away from the rip tip and effectively reduced the cracking potential at the rib tip. The strut action of the rib and resulting reverse shear in the beam web were also experimentally identified through the strain gage readings.