• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1988-1997
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• 2005

This study is concerned with structural integrity evaluations for the interference-fit flywheels in reactor coolant pumps (RCPs) of nuclear power plants. Stresses in the flywheel due to the shrinkage loads and centrifugal loads at the RCP normal operation speed, design overspeed and joint-release speed are obtained using the finite element method (FEM), where release of the deformation-controlled stresses as a result of structural interactions during rotation is considered. Fracture mechanics evaluations for a series of cracks assumed to exist in the flywheel are conducted, considering ductile (fatigue) and non-ductile fracture, and stress intensity factors are obtained for the cracks using the finite element alternating method (FEAM). From analysis results, it is found that fatigue crack growth rates calculated are negligible for smaller cracks. Meanwhile, the material resistance to non-ductile fracture in terms of the critical stress intensity factor (K$_{IC}$) and the nil-ductility transition reference temperature (RT$_{NDT}$) are governing factors for larger cracks.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.139-145
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• 2007

Fretting is a kind of surface damage mechanism observed in mechanically jointed components and structures. The initial crack under fretting damage occurs at lower stress amplitude and lower cycles of cyclic loading than that under plain fatigue condition. This can be observed in automobile and railway vehicle, fossil and nuclear power plant, aircraft etc. In the present study, railway axle material RSA1 used for evaluation of fretting fatigue life. Plain and fretting fatigue tests were carried out using rotary bending fatigue tester with proving ring and bridge type contact pad. Through these experiments, it is found that the fretting fatigue limit decreased about 37% compared to the plain fatigue limit. In fretting fatigue, the wear debris is observed on the contact surface, and oblique cracks at an earlier stage are initiated in contact area. These results can be used as useful data in a structural integrity evaluation of railway axle.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.74-82
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• 2010

Fretting damage can be observed in automobile and railway vehicle, fossil and nuclear power plant, aircraft etc. In the present study, railway axle material RSA1 used for evaluation of fretting fatigue life. Plain and fretting fatigue tests were carried out using rotary bending fatigue tester with proving ring and bridge type contact pad. Through these test, the following results are obtained: 1) it is found that the fretting fatigue limit of standard specimen decreased about 37% compared to the plain fatigue limit. 2) The early crack of Shinkansen type specimens initiated in contact area and final fractured below samp=214 MPa. 3) The early crack of all TGV type specimens initiated in rounded area and fractured. 4) Tire tracks and rubbed scars were observed in the oblique crack region and fatigue crack growth region of fracture surface. 5) The wear debris is observed on the contact surface, and oblique cracks at an earlier stage are initiated in contact area. These results can be used as useful data in a structural integrity evaluation of railway axle.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2024

This paper investigates the impact of local joint flexibility (LJF) on the fatigue life of jacket-type offshore platforms. Four sample platforms with varying geometric properties are modeled and analyzed using the Opensees software. The analysis considers the LJF of tubular joints through the equivalent element and flexible link approaches, and the results are compared to rigid modeling. Initially, modal analysis is conducted to examine the influence of LJF on the frequency content of the structure. Subsequently, fatigue analysis is performed to evaluate the fatigue life of the joints. The comparison of fatigue life reveals that incorporating LJF leads to reduced fatigue damage and a significant increase in the longevity of the joints in the studied platforms. Moreover, as the platform height increases, the effect of LJF on fatigue damage becomes more pronounced. In conclusion, considering LJF in fatigue analysis provides more accurate results compared to conventional methods. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate the effects of LJF in the analysis and design of offshore jacket platforms to ensure their structural integrity and longevity.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2024

In this study, the influence of thermal aging on structural integrity is investigated for Gr. 91 steel. A commercial grade Gr. 91 steel is used for the virgin material, and service-exposed Gr. 91 steel is sampled from a steam pipe of a super critical plant. Time versus creep strain curves are obtained through creep tests with various stress levels at 600 ℃ for the virgin and service-exposed Gr. 91 steels, respectively. Based on the creep test results, the improved Omega model is characterized for describing the total creep strain curve for both Gr. 91 steels. The proposed parameters for creep deformation model are used for predicting the steady-state creep strain rate, creep rupture curve, and stress relaxation. Creep-fatigue damage is evaluated for the intermediate heat exchanger (IHX) in a large-scale sodium test facility of STELLA-2 by using creep deformation model with proposed creep parameters and creep rupture curve for both Gr. 91 steels. Based on the comparison results of creep fatigue damage for the virgin and service-exposed Gr. 91 steels, the thermal aging effect has been shown to be significant.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.716-728
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• 1994

In this paper, fatigue tests were carried out to study the behavior of growth and coalescence of multi-surface cracks which were initiated at the semi-circular surface notches, and a simulation program was developed to predict their growth and coalescence behavior. By comparing the experimental result with those of the simulation based on SPC(surface point connection), ASME and BSI(British Standards Institution) conditions, we tried to enhance the reliance and integrity of structures. This shows that the simulation result has utility for fatigue life prediction.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.421-426
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• 2005

In general, structural integrity of rolling stock structures should last more than 25 years. During the lifetime corrosive degradation occurs. For structural design and diagnosis, quantitative relationship between corrosive degradation and variation of mechanical properties such as tensile strength and fatigue strength is needed. In this study, first of all we established the atmospheric corrosion test procedure. At regular intervals using specimens of SM490A and SS400 on the atmospheric corrosion test bed, we carried out tensile and fatigue tests. The fatigue strength decreases as the atmospheric corrosion period increases. And we studied the effect of post-weld heat treatment on the tensile and fatigue behaviour.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.256-259
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• 2008

An micro-probe tip must be manufactured using thin film to evaluate integrity of the semiconductor with narrow distance between pads. In this study, fatigue tests were performed for BeCu thin film which is used in micro-probe tip of semiconductor test machine. The thin film was manufactured by electro plating process, and the specimens were fabricated by wire-cut electric discharge method to make hour glass type specimen of $5000{\mu}m$ width, $29200{\mu}m$ length and $30{\mu}m$ thickness. The fatigue test of load control with 10Hz frequency was performed, in ambient environment. The fatigue cycles were tension-tension with mean stress, at stress ratio, R=0.1.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.47-54
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• 1998

Various equipments in plants are welded with two different materials and it is required to investigate the effects of fatigue crack propagation on the neighborhood of a welded portion. The characteristics of fatigue crack growth in the base metal of carbon and stainless steel, in the carbon and stainless steel sides located in the neighborhood of welded portion (carbon/stainless steel), respectively and welded portion, are investigated. The results show that the crack growth in the welded portion (carbon/stainless steel) is an average value of the crack growths in the carbon and stainless steel respectively located in the neighborhood of the welded portion. It is found that the crack growth in the welded portion is not significantly different from those in the carbon and stainless steel sides. Hence it can be concluded that the structure welded with two different materials wold not impede the integrity based on the fatigue crack growth.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.31-39
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• 1995

The surface integrity of a machined surface is an important factor that dictates several performance characteristics of a metal part. In this paper, the surface integrity aspects are presented specifically with respect to the tribological properties of steel. Test specimens were prepared under varying conditions to induce different levels of surface deformation and hardness. Sliding and rolling experiments were performed to assess the friction and wear characteristics of these specimens using a pinon-disk type tribotester and a plate-on-ball type set-up. It is reaffirmed that heat treated steels possess superior sliding and rolling fatigue resistance than raw steel. However, for the case of raw steels machined under varying conditions, the harder specimen resulted in higher wear. This result is attributed to the presence of surface cracks that were induced during machining. The results of such findings will aid in the optimization of surface preparation process for tribological applications of steel.