• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.599-608
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• 2012

A numerical analysis has been performed through implicit dynamic finite element analysis using the commercial package, ABAQUS in order to investigate effect of laser peening on welding residual stress mitigation of dissimilar metal welds in a safety injection nozzle of integral reactor. The implicit dynamic finite element analysis are compared with the previous experimental results. By comparison, it is identified that the implicit dynamic finite element analysis is valid for residual stress mitigation via laser peening. Implicit static finite element residual stress analysis has been performed for the dissimilar metal welds subject to inner repair welding. The analysis results represent that both axial and hoop residual stresses are tensile on inner surface of safety injection nozzle due to inner repair welding. Also Parametric study has performed to investigate effect of laser peening variables such as maximum impact pressure, duration time of pressure, spot diameter and peening direction on the welding residual stress mitigation. As a result, it is found that laser peening has the preventive maintenance effect to mitigate mainly residual stresses of region near inner surface.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.33-40
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• 2016

The microstructures and the creep rupture properties of dissimilar welds between the Ni-based superalloy Inconel 740H and the non-stabilized austenitic stainless steel TP316H have been characterized. The welds were produced by shielded metal arc (SMA) welding process with the AWS A5.11 Class ENiCrFe-3 filler metal, commonly known as Inconel 182 superalloy. Postweld heat treatment at $760^{\circ}C$ for 4 hours was conducted to form ${\gamma}^{\prime}$ strengthener in Inconel 740H. The austenitic weld metal produced by Inconel 182 had a dendritic microstructure, and grew epitaxially from the both sides of Inconel 740H and TP316H base metals. Since both Inconel 740H and TP316H did not undergo any solid-state transformation during welding process, there were no heat-affected-zone (HAZ) sub-regions and the coarsoned grains near the weld interface were limited to a narrow region. The hardness of Inconel 182 weld metal was ~220 Hv. The gradual hardness decrease was detected at HAZ of TP316H, and the TP316H base metal displayed the lowest hardness value (~180 Hv) whilst the Inconel 740H showed the highest hardness value (~400 Hv). Fracture after creep occurred at the center of weld metal, regardless of creep condition. It was found that during creep the cracks initiated and propagated along interdendritic regions and grain boundaries at which Laves particles enriched in Nb, Si and Cr were present. The appropriate design of weld metal was discussed to suppress the creep-induced cracking of the present dissimilar weld.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.534-537
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• 2008

In recent years, the dissimilar metal, Alloy 82/182 welds used to connect stainless steel piping and low alloy steel or carbon steel components in nuclear reactor piping system have experienced cracking due to primary water stress corrosion(PWSCC). It is well known that one reason of the cracking is the residual stress by the weld. But, it is difficult to estimate exactly weld residual stress due to many parameters of welding. In this paper, the analysis of 3 FEM models made by ABAQUS Code is performed to estimate exactly the weld residual stress on the dissimilar metal weld. 3 FEM models are Butt model, Repair model and Overlay model and are the plane.strain 2D model. The thermal analysis and the stress analysis are performed on each model and the residual stresses on each model were calculated and compared respectively. Also, the specimen of Butt model was made and the residual stresses were measured by X-Ray method and Hole Drilling Technique. These results were compared with the FEM result of Butt model.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.38-40
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• 2005

Fracture mechanics evaluation of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in the dissimilar metal weld (DMW) for the nuclear piping system is performed; simulating the transition joint of the ferritic nozzle to austenitic safe-end fabricated with the Inconel Alloy A82/182 buttering and welds. Residual stresses in the DMW are computed by the finite element (FE) analyses Then, to investigate the SCC in the weld root under the combined residual and system operation stresses, the fracture mechanics parameters for a semi-elliptical surface crack are evaluated using the finite element alternating method (FEAM). As a result, it is found that the effect of weld residual stresses on the crack-driving forces is dominant, as high as three times or more than the operation stresses.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.69-76
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• 2016

Characteristics of dissimilar metal welds between ASTM Type 316L and carbon steel ASTM A516 Gr.70 made with FCAW were evaluated in terms of microstructure, ferrite content, EDS analysis, hardness, tensile strength, impact toughness and corrosion resistance. Three heat inputs of 10.4, 16.9, 23.4kJ/cm were employed to make joints of dissimilar metals with E309LMoT1-1 wire. Microstructure of dissimilar weld metals consisted of mostly vermicular type of ${\delta}$-ferrite and some lathy type of ${\delta}$-ferrite, and ${\delta}$-ferrite was transformed into globular type in reheated zone. In all conditions, weld metals were solidified on FA solidification mode. Based on the EDS analysis of weld metals, All Creq/Nieq values were in the range of FA solidification mode, and it was decreased with increasing heat inputs whereas it was increased with increasing layers. The amount of ${\delta}$-ferrite was decreased with increasing heat input due to the difference of cooling rate, and it was increased with increasing layers. Accordingly, hardness and tensile strength of dissimilar metals weld joints was decreased with increasing heat input while impact energy was increased with increasing heat input. Corrosion test of dissimilar metals weld joints showed that weight gain rate of heat input 10.4kJ/cm was the greatest, and that of three heat inputs became constant after certain time.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.43-48
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• 2005

This work was carried out to obtain sound welds and to select a most suitable binary metal joint among three different dissimilar binary metal combinations such as Zr-4/Ta, Mo/Ta and Ti/Ta(seal tube/sensor sheath) joints fur the instrumented nuclear fuel irradiation test. To do this, Taguchi experimental method was employed to optimize the experimental data. In addition, metallography, micro-focus x-ray radiography and hardness test were conducted to examine the welds. From the weld bead appearance, penetration depth and bead width as well as weld defects standpoint, Zr-4/Ta joint is suggested for the circumferential joining between a seal tube and a sensor sheath. The optimized welding parameters based on Zr-4/Ta joint are suggested as well.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.1846-1857
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• 2021

Ultrasonic nondestructive testing is important for monitoring the structural integrity of dissimilar metal welds (DMWs) in pressure vessels and piping in nuclear power plants. However, there is a low probability of crack detection via inspection of DMWs using ultrasonic waves because the grain structures (grain orientations) of the weld area cause distortion and splitting of ultrasonic beams propagating in anisotropic media. To overcome this issue, the grain orientation should be known, and a precise ultrasonic wave simulation technique in anisotropic media is required to model the distortion and splitting of the waves accurately. In this study, a method for nondestructive prediction of the DMW grain orientations is presented for accurate simulation of ultrasonic wave propagation behavior in the weld area. The ultrasonic wave propagation behavior in anisotropic media is simulated via finite-element analysis when ultrasonic waves propagate in a transversely isotropic material. In addition, a methodology to predict the DMW grain orientation is proposed that employs a simulation technique for ultrasonic wave propagation behavior calculation and an optimization technique. The simulated ultrasonic wave behaviors with the grain orientations predicted via the proposed method demonstrate its usefulness. Moreover, the method can be used to determine the focal law in DMWs.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.635-641
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• 2011

In ultrasonic testing of dissimilar metal welds, application of phased array technique in terms of incident beam focusing is not easy because of complicated material structures formed during the multi-pass welding process. Time reversal(TR) techniques can overcome some limitations of phased array since they are self-focusing that does not depend on the geometrical and physical properties of testing components. In this paper, we test the possibility of TR focusing on a defect within anisotropic, heterogeneous austenitic welds. A commercial simulation software is employed for TR focusing and imaging of a side-drilled hole. The performance of time reversed adaptive focal law is compared with those of calculated focal laws for both anisotropic and isotropic welds.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.1047-1052
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• 2012

Primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) instances have been reported in the Alloy 600 reactor pressure vessel head penetration nozzle and the Alloy 82/182 dissimilar metal butt weld nozzle in several PWRs. Therefore, in-service inspection programs have been adopted worldwide to prevent failure at the weld region. If a PWSCC is observed at the dissimilar metal weld region during inspection, its structural integrity should be evaluated; however, this requires considerable time and effort, and this might lead to a decrease in the plant utilization coefficient. To prevent this, KHNP-CRI have established integrity assessment criteria and developed a computer program for the fast evaluation and judgment of PWSCC. In this paper, the results and current status of the same are presented. Through this study, criteria for the structural integrity evaluation of PWSCC have been established, and a computer program has been developed to realize technical means for the evaluation of PWSCC structural integrity.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.504-509
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• 2016

Defects in dissimilar metal welds are reported to be on the increase during the operating lifespan and aging of nuclear power plants. In Korea, reported cases of defects due to dissimilar metal welds include the drain nozzle of a steam generator and RCS hot tube sampling nozzles. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a reliable automated nondestructive inspection technique and a system for the inspection of dissimilar metal welds of small diameter nozzles in a high radiation area of a nuclear power plant. In this study, to ensure effective defect inspection of small diameter nozzles (RCS high-temperature tube sampling nozzle) of a nuclear power plant, three different methods were developed. These include: (1) optimum inspection probe design by beam simulation, (2) multi-directions UT optimum inspection technique for the inspection of small diameters of different welded parts, and (3) remote control automatic inspection system. The developed technique and systems have been verified to be suitable for use in the inspection of defects in smaller diameter nozzles in nuclear power plants.