• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2013

The primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) of Alloy 600 in a PWR has been reported in the control rod drive mechanism (CRDM), pressurizer instrumentation, and the pressurizer heater sleeves. Recently, two cases of boric acid precipitation that indicated leaking of the primary cooling water were reported on the bottom head surface of steam generators (SG) in Korea. The PWSCC resistance of Ni base alloys which have intergranular carbides is higher than those which have intragranular carbides. Conversely, in oxidized acidic solutions like sodium sulfate or sodium tetrathionate solutions, the Ni base alloys with a lot of carbides at the grain boundaries and shows less stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance. The role of grain boundary carbides in SCC behavior of Ni base alloys was evaluated and effect of intergranular carbides on the SCC susceptibility were reviewed from the literature.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.141-150
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• 2012

Stress corrosion cracks in Alloy 600 compact tension specimens tested at $325^{\circ}C$ in a simulated primary water environment of pressurized water reactor were analyzed by analytical transmission electron microscopy and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). From a fine-probe chemical analysis, oxygen was found on the grain boundary just ahead of the crack tip, and chromium oxides were precipitated on the crack tip and the grain boundary attacked by the oxygen diffusion, leaving a Cr/Fe depletion (or Ni enrichment) zone. The oxide layer inside the crack was revealed to consist of a double (inner and outer) layer. Chromium oxides existed in the inner layer, with NiO and (Ni,Cr) spinels in the outer layer. From the nano-SIMS analysis, oxygen was detected at the locations of intergranular chromium carbides ahead of the crack tip, which means that oxygen diffused into the grain boundary and oxidized the surfaces of the chromium carbides. The intergranular chromium carbide blunted the crack tip, thereby suppressing the crack propagation.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.2304-2311
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• 2021

The dislocation density in strain-hardened Alloy 690 was analyzed using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to study the relationship between the local plastic strain and susceptibility to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) in nuclear power plants. The test material was cold-rolled at various thickness reduction ratios from 10% to 40% to simulate the strain-hardening condition of plant components. The dislocation densities were measured at grain boundaries (GB) and in grain interiors of strain-hardened specimens from STEM images. The dislocation density in the grain interior monotonically increased as the strain-hardening proceeded, while the dislocation density at the GB increased with strain-hardening up to 20% but slightly decreases upon further deformation to 40%. The decreased dislocation density at the GB was attributed to the formation of deformation twins. After the PWSCC growth test of strain-hardened Alloy 690, the fraction of intergranular (IG) fracture was obtained from fractography. In contrast to the change in the dislocation density with strain-hardening, the fraction of IG fracture increased remarkably when strain-hardened over 20%. From the results, it was suggested that the PWSCC growth behavior of strain-hardened Alloy 690 not only depends on the dislocation density, but also on the microstructural defects at the GB.

• International Journal of Safety
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.6-9
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• 2009

The crack in a J85 engine V.G. actuator arm shaft for a bell crank on the engine compressor was investigated. The crack was observed in twenty two shafts during the inspection of 238 shafts. The failure analysis of shaft cracks was performed by chemical composition analysis using ICP(Inductively Coupled Plasma) and by fracture surface and microstructure analysis using FE-SEM and optical microscope. The crack initiated from the top and bottom and propagated to the center along the grain boundaries. From the chemical composition analysis, the fractography of the fracture surface and the microstructure, it was found that the failure mechanism of the shafts is the inclusion-related intergranular decohesion crack. The inclusion was found out from MnS particle by EDS(Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy). The crack initiated MnS inclusion in the grain boundary and propagated with the increase of applied shear stress during long operation. In order to prevent the fracture, NDI(Nondestructive inspection) is needed periodically as recommended.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 1996.05c
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• pp.111-116
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• 1996

IGSCC(Intergranular stress corrosion cracking) behaviors of Alloy 600 were studied by the electrchemical ten methods of controlling specimens electrode potentials in the active-passive transition region of anodic polarization curve. Anodic polarization and static potential tests of stressed C-ring type MA Alloy 600 were carried out in 10% NaOH at 300 $^{\circ}C$ for 7days. It was confirmed that IGSCC of Alloy 600 was accellerated by maintaining the specimen potential in the susceptible active-passive transition region of anodic polarization curve. An intergranular crack was initiated on the surface area of C-ring specimens where protective oxide layer was broken down. And the depth of the crack growth was about 100 ${\mu}$m during the testing periods.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2011.04a
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• pp.269-272
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• 2011

새로운 재료의 개발과 사용 중인 기존재료의 손상을 판단하기 위해서 변형 중 재료 거동을 정확히 파악하는 것이 중요하다. 하지만, 대부분의 공학 재료는 다결정으로 이루어져 결정 상호작용의 규명이 복잡하여 정밀한 분석이 어렵다. 고에너지 X-ray 회절실험법을 이용한 다결정 고체 거동의 측정기법이 발전함에 따라 해석을 통한 실험법의 검증 및 추가 분석 방법에 대해서도 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 본 연구에서는 특정 결정과 주변 결정 간의 결정간 방위차(intergranular misorientation)의 상호작용에 의한 결정 거동 영향을 조사하였다. 결정간 방위차를 정의하고 결정 응력 방향 변화를 단결정 항복면 꼭지점과 방향과 비교함으로써 결정간 방위차의 변화에 대한 결정 응력 변화를 분석하였다. 소성 발생이 증가함에 따라 결정 응력의 방향은 단결정 항복면 꼭지점으로 이동하지만 결정간 방위차에 의해서 응력 분포가 변화함을 정량적으로 확인하였다.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2000

This study proposes the integrity evaluation of the bogie frame using ultrasonic fractography analysis. Analysis objectives in this study are to investigate fracture planes of damaged zone by the A-scan method. The surface condition of fracture planes shows degree of degradation by the stress concentration. The detection of the natural defects in the bogie frame is performed using the characteristics of echodynamic pattern in ultrasonic signal. Results of ultrasonic testing agree fairly well with those of actual fracture plane. In quantitative fractography analysis, microstructures of actual fracture plane turned out to be intergranular and transgranular fracture. Proposed ultrasonic fractography analysis in this study can be used for the integrity evaluation of the bogie frame.

• Journal of Welding and Joining
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 1983

Austenitic stainless steel has been investigated widely for creep strength of heat resistant material and effects of grain sizes due to various solution treatment time under constant temperature. It was studied that effects of grain sizes subject to solution treatment temperature 1100.deg. C, 1125.deg. C, 1175.deg. C, 1250.deg C, and 1300.deg. C respectively on the creep strength, fracture behaviour and fractography of SUS 316 stainless steel. The experimental results obtained were as follows. 1. The optimum grain size for the maximum creep strength did not vary with creep testing temperatures and stress levels. 2. Among various grain sizes due to different solution treatment temperature, the optimum grain size for the creep strength was found 0.044mm. Also the size showed the minimum initial strain regardless creep temperature. 3. Garofalo's equation of creep rupture life was applied well to SUS 316 stainless steel. 4. The fractography of optimum size was ductile intergranular fracture of dimple type and showed along with the increase of grain size intergranular fracture of w type.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.187-191
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• 2008

Transgranular stress corrosion cracking of nickel base alloys was reported by Copson and Dean in 1965. Study to establish this cracking mechanism needs to be carried out. Laboratory stress corrosion tests were performed for mill annealed(MA) or thermally treated(TT) steam generator tubing materials in a high temperature water containing lead. An electrochemical interaction of lead with the alloying elements of SG tubings was also investigated. Alloy 690 TT showed a transgranular stress corrosion cracking in a 40% NaOH solution with 5000 ppm of lead, while intergranular stress corrosion racking was observed in a 10% NaOH solution with 100 ppm lead. Lead seems to enhance the disruption of passive film and anodic dissolution of alloy 600 and alloy 690. Crack tip blunting at grain boundary carbides plays a role for the transgranular stress corrosion cracking.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.203-208
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• 2004

To make practical applications of Al-Zn-Mg ternary aluminum alloy effectively in various field, a series of static creep tests under the 16 temperature-stress combination conditions had been performed. The creep tester with constant stress loading was designed and made by the authors and used in this study. The higher the creep temperature rose, the less the stress exponents became. The bigger the applied stresses became, the less values the creep strain activation energy showed. The life prediction constant of Larson-Miller parameter was calculated as about 2.3. In the fractography, the ductile fracture with dimples by intergranular breakage was primarily observed. We can make practical use of these test data in the design, the life prediction and the prevention of the accidents of the thermal facilities, etc.