Influence of Glow-Discharge Nitrided Temperatures of Cast Stainless Steel for Cavitation-Erosion Enhancement in Seawater

In this work, corrosion resistance and cavitation-erosion characteristics were investigated by applying plasma ion nitriding technique to cast stainless steels used as materials of high speed rotors under seawater environment. Plasma ion nitriding was performed for 10 h at various temperature parameters with 25% N2 and 75% H2 gas ratio. The cavitation-erosion experiment was carried out under vibration amplitude of 30 °C and sea water temperature of 25 °C according to modified ASTM G32-92. The yN phase that improves corrosion resistance and mechanical properties was formed at the all of experimnetal temperatures after plasma ion nitriding treatment. The crystallite size of phases was calculated through the XRD patterns according to Scherrer formula and obtained smallest nano size of yN phase at 450 °C. Cavitation-erosion resistance was enhanced up to 450 °C but was deteriorated at 500 °C.

FEM Simulation of Waves Excited by Array Probe Propagating in Centrifugally Cast Stainless Steel With Hexagonal Column

Centrifugally cast stainless steel (CCSS) is widely used in PWR primary coolant systems. However, ultrasonic testing for such material is very challenging because its coarse grains and anisotropic property. The phased array ultrasonic technology (PAUT) is considered the most promising solution to the problem mentioned. To improve the accuracy of PAUT for CCSS with columnar grains, we used the voxel-based finite element method to perform simulation of wave propagation in CCSS, where waves were excited by a linear array. We modeled columnar grains in CCSS with hexagonal columns and introduced a side-drilled hole. It was easily to have different inclined columnar grains by rotating the crystal axes. All column crystals were considered cubic crystals while CCSS with columnar grains was macroscopically transversely isotropic. Wave propagations were computed for different focal laws and their results were compared. Waves exactly propagated toward and focused at the targeted SDH when focal laws were calculated according to the anisotropic property of CCSS, but deviated the target for focal laws based on isotropy.

The Microstructure and Mechanical and Corrosion Behaviors of Thermally Aged Z3CN20-09M Cast Stainless Steel for Primary Coolant Pipes of Nuclear Power Plants

The effects of thermal aging time at 400 °C on the microstructure and mechanical and corrosion behaviors of Z3CN20.09M cast stainless steel were investigated; and the corresponding thermal aging mechanism was studied. It was revealed that the changes in mechanical properties after thermal aging were mainly caused by the iron-rich phase (α) and the chromium-rich phase (α’) produced by the amplitude-modulation decomposition of ferrite. A similar trend of thermoelectric potential during thermal aging was determined in relation to the Charpy impact energy. However, the corrosion resistance of Z3CN20.09M cast stainless steel deteriorates as thermal aging time increases. When the thermal aging is longer than 3000 h, the precipitation of G phase has a great influence on the corrosion resistance. The interfacial matching relationship between G phase and the surrounding ferrite was established by selected area electron diffraction of HRTEM. The relationship is of cube-on-cube phase boundary type. The impact fracture mechanisms in relation to thermal aging time were also studied and compared.

Study on Incorporation of New Design Fatigue Curves and a New Environmental Fatigue Correction Factor for PWR Environment Into the JSME Environmental Fatigue Evaluation Method

Improved design fatigue curves were developed in the Subcommittee on Design Fatigue Curve in the Atomic Energy Research Committee in the Japan Welding Engineering Society (JWES). Working Group on Design Fatigue Curves (WG DFC) in the JSME has studied the validity and the applicability of the improved design fatigue curves developed in the JWES to incorporate into the JSME Environmental Fatigue Evaluation Method. The authors propose a fatigue analysis method using the design fatigue curves developed in the JWES that are applied revised factors to optimize the environmental fatigue analysis. Also, the Japanese pressurized water reactor (PWR) utility group developed equations of environmental fatigue factors (Fen) for austenitic stainless steel base metal, weld metal and cast stainless steel in PWR environment. The WG DFC has investigated the Fen equations and concluded that the Fen equation of austenitic stainless steel base metal is the most conservative among the three equations and close to NUREG/CR-6909 Rev.1 [24]. The authors propose to use the Fen equation for base metal for austenitic stainless steels for all of the base metal, weld metal and cast stainless steel. In addition, the authors have confirmed that the employment of the proposed Fen equation to the proposed design fatigue curves of austenitic stainless steels accurately predicts the existing environmental fatigue test data of austenitic stainless steels, which were used in the development of the current Fen equation of austenitic stainless steels in PWR environments in the JSME Environmental Fatigue Evaluation Method. Therefore, the proposed Fen equation can be applied to environmental fatigue evaluation for austenitic stainless steels.

Introduction of CASS Pipe Flaw Evaluation of JSME Rules on Fitness for Service

This paper summarizes the revised flaw evaluation procedures for cast austenitic stainless steel (CASS) pipe of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME) rules on fitness for service (FFS) in 2018 addenda. The revision includes the introduction of thermal aging degradation models for stressstrain curve and fracture resistance (J-R) curve, application of a screening criteria for the fracture evaluation procedure of cast stainless steel pipes, and introduction of a new critical stress parameter for the limit load evaluation method of a shallow flaw with a flaw depth to thickness ratio of less than or equal to 0.5. These revisions are based on a large database of specimen tests and several fracture tests of flat plate and large pipe models using thermally aged material, which have already been published.