Abstract
This work summarises the results obtained from a failure analysis of a pipe crack in a BWR water clean-up system. The cracking occurred in an AISI 304 steel pipe section area where mixing of the water streams at two different temperatures (280° and 130°C) took place. The temperature difference and turbulence induced a cyclic thermal loading which, together with the environment, caused cracking. Cracking propagated as transgranular brittle cleavage-like fracture, probably on a stress level below yield stress. Cracking was still observed in areas where the cyclic temperature differences caused by turbulence were markedly lower. The AISI 304 steel was in fully solution annealed as-receiv≐d condition.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 445-455 |
| Journal | International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1981 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |