Finite Element Simulation and Experimental Investigation of Welding Residual Stress for PWR Safe-End

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guodong Zhang ◽  
Fei Xue ◽  
Yanfen Zhao ◽  
Lu Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Weld Metal ◽  
Welded Joint ◽  
Welding Residual Stress ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Element Simulation ◽  
Dissimilar Metal Weld ◽  
Metal Weld

A 3-D sequential coupling finite element simulation is performed to investigate the temperature field and residual stress in the dissimilar metal weld of a PWR safe-end and nozzle. Chemical compositions and welding residual stress of the dissimilar metal weld are measured. And residual stress of the welded joint of nozzle and safe-end has been studied, aiming to provide a reference for the fabrication and operation of safe-end and nozzle. The testing results show that the experiment results are consistent with FE results. The FE simulation method can be used for the welding residual analysis of the welded joint. And, the calculating results show that large hoop (S33) and axial (S22) of welding residual stresses are generated in the weld metal. The maximum tensile and compressive stresses of S22 and S33 are all in the weld metal or at the interface of the nozzle and weld metal. Due to the difference in mechanical properties and chemical compositions between the base metal and weld metal, a discontinuous stress distribution is generated across the interface between the weld metal and nozzle.

High-Temperature Constitutive Behavior of Austenitic Stainless Steel for Weld Residual Stress Modeling

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongxiao Qiao ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Zhili Feng
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Stainless Steel ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Constitutive Rule ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Weld Residual Stress ◽  
Dissimilar Metal Weld ◽  
Metal Weld

Weld residual stress is a major driving force for initiation and growth of primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC), which is a critical challenge for weld integrity of reactor pressure vessel nozzles in nuclear industry. Predicting weld residual stresses for the purpose of understanding and mitigating PWSCC requires the knowledge of material constitutive rule especially strain hardening behavior over a wide range of temperatures. Though it is adequate for describing deformation at low temperature, the conventional, rate-independent, elastic-plastic constitutive rule falls short in predicting the strong microstructure-mechanical interaction such as the softening due to recovery (dislocation annihilation and realignment) and recrystallization at elevated temperature in welding. To quantify the extent of softening under temperature and strain conditions relevant to welding, a framework has been developed by combining advanced experimental techniques and finite element modeling. First, physical simulation in a Gleeble testing machine is used to simulate the temperature transients typical of dissimilar metal weld by subjecting round tensile bar shaped specimens to rapid heating and cooling. Second, the digital image correlation (DIC) technique is used to map the non-uniform strain field and extract local strain history needed for accurately determining the true stress vs. true strain curve of softened material. Third, the thermally-mechanically processed specimens are characterized metallographically to correlate the microstructure changes to the measured stress-strain behavior. Finally, a thermal-stress finite element model of three-bar frame is used to study the effect of softening on the predicted weld residual stresses. As a first step toward developing the much-needed, comprehensive material constitutive relation database for dissimilar metal weld, the framework has been applied to study AISI 304L austenitic stainless steel. The extent of softening due to different duration of high-temperature exposure is studied and its influence on final residual stresses is discussed.

Validation of Welding Residual Stress Model Using Results From a Pressurizer Surge Nozzle Mockup

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doug Killian
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Crack Growth ◽  
Material Properties ◽  
Welding Residual Stress ◽  
Stress Model ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Dissimilar Metal Weld ◽  
Metal Weld

Although numerical welding simulation is now commonly used in the nuclear industry to predict residual stresses in reactor vessels and associated piping components, there are currently no universally accepted guidelines for performing such analysis. Moreover, due to the complexity of the calculations and varying analytical procedures among analysts, there remains a need to validate predictions of residual stress against benchmark studies. As part of an industry initiative to manage the degradation of dissimilar metal welds in pressurized water reactor piping that are susceptible to primary water stress corrosion cracking, the U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission embarked on a multi-phased program to validate welding residual stress models. The aim of Phase II of this program is to obtain measured residual stresses from a pressurizer surge nozzle dissimilar metal weld mockup for use in comparisons with numerically predicted stresses. This paper presents results of finite element analysis for various stages during the fabrication of a 14–inch pressurizer surge nozzle mockup, including an Alloy 82 dissimilar metal weld between a stainless steel safe end and carbon steel nozzle, an inside surface weld repair (back weld) and fill-in weld (weld build-up), and a stainless steel “field” weld attaching a section of straight pipe to the safe end. The NRC validation program was structured to allow participants to first calculate results using their own material properties, and then tune their welding simulations to thermocouple data. This was followed by reanalysis using NRC-supplied material properties. The program was conducted as a round robin analysis among an international group of participants and formatted as a blind validation project wherein results were submitted to the NRC prior to receipt of thermocouple and material property data. Results were obtained for both kinematic and isotropic hardening rules to study the effect of these two extreme measures of material characterization on the development of residual stress. Predicted stresses are then compared to measured stress data obtained by the deep-hole drilling technique at multiple locations through the thickness of the weld. The NRC residual stress model validation project serves as a valuable contribution to the understanding of how residual stresses are developed in dissimilar metal welds. The correlation of calculated residual stresses with measured data from a relevant mockup also serves to increase confidence in predicting crack growth in these primary pressure boundary welds by removing much of the uncertainty previously associated with residual stress input to crack growth analysis.

Finite element analysis and measurement for residual stress of dissimilar metal weld in pressurizer safety nozzle mockup

2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 2948-2955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyoung-soo Lee ◽  
W. Kim ◽  
Jeong-geun Lee ◽  
Chi-yong Park ◽  
Jun-seok Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Finite Element Analysis ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Dissimilar Metal Weld ◽  
Metal Weld

The Impact of Key Simulation Variables on Predicted Residual Stresses in Pressuriser Nozzle Dissimilar Metal Weld Mock-Ups: Part 1—Simulation

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Smith ◽  
Ondrej Mura´nsky ◽  
Philip J. Bendeich ◽  
Lyndon Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Constitutive Models ◽  
Deep Hole ◽  
Relief Valve ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Work Programme ◽  
Dissimilar Metal Weld ◽  
Manufacturing History ◽  
Metal Weld

British Energy (BE) has funded a large work programme to assess the possible impact of primary water stress corrosion cracking on dissimilar metal welds in the primary circuit of the Sizewell ‘B’ pressurised water reactor. This effort has included the design and manufacture of representative pressuriser safety/relief valve nozzle welds both with and without a full structural weld overlay, multiple residual stress measurements on both mock-ups using the deep hole and incremental deep hole methods, and a number of finite element weld residual stress simulations of both the mock-ups and equivalent plant welds. Three organisations have performed simulations of the safety/relief valve nozzle configuration: Westinghouse, Engineering Mechanics Corporation of Columbus (EMC2) and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). The simulations employ different welding heat input idealisations, make different assumptions about manufacturing history, and use a variety of different material constitutive models, ranging from simple bilinear kinematic hardening to a full mixed isotropic-kinematic formulation. The availability of both high quality measurements from well characterised mock-ups, and a large matrix of simulations, offers the opportunity for a “mini-round-robin” examining both the accuracy and key solution variables of dissimilar metal weld finite element simulations. This paper is one of a series at this conference that examine various aspects of the BE work programme. It describes the detailed finite element simulation of the mock-ups performed by BE and ANSTO. This makes use of the extensive mock-up manufacturing records to perform a detailed pass-bypass simulation of the entire manufacturing process from initial nozzle buttering through to completion of the safe end to pipe weld. The thermal simulation makes use of a dedicated welding heat source modelling tool to derive Gaussian volumetric heat source parameters from the welding records, and the mechanical simulation employs isotropic, kinematic and mixed isotropic-kinematic material constitutive models. Additional sensitivity studies examine sensitivity to manufacturing history and physical properties such as expansion coefficient mismatch.

Residual Stress Prediction in Dissimilar Metal Weld Pipe Joints Using the Finite Element Method

2005 ◽  
Vol 490-491 ◽  
pp. 53-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Elias Katsareas ◽  
Anastasius Youtsos
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element Method ◽  
Residual Stress ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Residual Stresses ◽  
The Finite Element Method ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Stress Prediction ◽  
Dissimilar Metal Weld ◽  
Metal Weld ◽  
Element Method

Dissimilar metal welds are commonly found in the primary piping of pressurized water nuclear reactor power plants. The safety assessment practice for such welds requires residual stresses to be taken into consideration. In the present paper the finite element method is utilized for the simulation of the welding process and prediction of the residual stress field in a dissimilar metal weld pipe joint. Although it is common practice to develop in-house finite element codes for weld simulation, the ANSYS commercial finite element code is selected. This is mainly due to the fact that industry focuses on commercial software, since residual stress analysis procedures based on them can be readily transferred to industrial applications. A simplified 2-D axi-symmetric model, in which residual stresses are produced due to the thermo-mechanical properties mismatch during cooling of the weld, is compared with a detailed model in which the complete multi-pass welding procedure is simulated. The latter incorporates the “birth & death of elements” technique, temperature dependant material properties and kinematic hardening material behavior. The aim of this comparison is to establish the degree of model detail and complexity, necessary to obtain satisfactory results and consequently to define a golden rule between computational cost and practically accurate predictions. Identifying the specific simulation parameters and variables, that have the highest impact on the accuracy of the computed results, is also important. It is concluded that, a bead-by-bead or lump-by-lump detailed simulation is necessary in order to obtain reasonably accurate residual stresses that cannot be predicted by a simplified model. A general conclusion is that the proposed method, being simple in implementation and cost effective concerning model complexity and analysis time, is a potential weld residual stress prediction tool.

Effectiveness of Excavate and Weld Repair on a Large Diameter Piping Dissimilar Metal Weld by Finite Element Analysis

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francis H. Ku ◽  
Pete C. Riccardella ◽  
Aparna Alleshwaram ◽  
Eric Willis
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Finite Element ◽  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Large Diameter ◽  
Weld Repair ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Primary Water ◽  
Dissimilar Metal Weld ◽  
Metal Weld

Finite element weld residual stress analyses are performed to investigate the effectiveness of a newly proposed repair option for primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) in dissimilar metal welds in PWRs: Excavate and Weld Repair (EWR). Analyses are performed on a 30″ (762mm) outside diameter (OD) and 3″ (76mm) thick stainless steel pipe connected to a low alloy steel nozzle with a dissimilar metal weld (DMW). Eight EWR cases are analyzed to evaluate the sensitivities in weld residual stresses due to variations in the width and depth of the EWR, including cases with and without a thin weld cap on top of the DMW. The results demonstrate that a wide EWR that extends beyond the original width of the DMW provides the maximum residual stress benefits to the DMW, in terms of reducing the as-welded residual stresses. It is also found that the presence of the weld cap yields only marginal residual stress benefits.

scholarly journals Experimental Characterisation and Numerical Modelling of Residual Stresses in a Nuclear Safe-End Dissimilar Metal Weld Joint

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1298
Author(s):  
Shuyan Zhang ◽  
Zhuozhi Fan ◽  
Jun Li ◽  
Shuwen Wen ◽  
Sanjooram Paddea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Neutron Diffraction ◽  
Residual Stresses ◽  
Weld Joint ◽  
Steel Tube ◽  
Contour Method ◽  
Fe Modelling ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Dissimilar Metal Weld ◽  
Metal Weld

In this study, a mock-up of a nuclear safe-end dissimilar metal weld (DMW) joint (SA508-3/316L) was manufactured. The manufacturing process involved cladding and buttering of the ferritic steel tube (SA508-3). It was then subjected to a stress relief heat treatment before being girth welded together with the stainless steel tube (316L). The finished mock-up was subsequently machined to its final dimension. The weld residual stresses were thoroughly characterised using neutron diffraction and the contour method. A detailed finite element (FE) modelling exercise was also carried out for the prediction of the weld residual stresses resulting from the manufacturing processes of the DMW joint. Both the experimental and numerical results showed high levels of tensile residual stresses predominantly in the hoop direction of the weld joint in its final machined condition, tending towards the OD surface. The maximum hoop residual stress determined by the contour method was 500 MPa, which compared very well with the FE prediction of 467.7 Mpa. Along the neutron scan line at the OD subsurface across the weld joint, both the contour method and the FE modelling gave maximum hoop residual stress near the weld fusion line on the 316L side at 388.2 and 453.2 Mpa respectively, whereas the neutron diffraction measured a similar value of 480.6 Mpa in the buttering zone near the SA508-3 side. The results of this research thus demonstrated the reasonable consistency of the three techniques employed in revealing the level and distribution of the residual stresses in the DMW joint for nuclear applications.

Effect of Strain Hardening Constitutive Relations on Weld Residual Stress Simulation of Dissimilar Metal Weld

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Chen ◽  
Gaoqiang Chen ◽  
Xinghua Yu ◽  
Zhili Feng ◽  
Paul Crooker
Keyword(s):  
Residual Stress ◽  
Strain Hardening ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Dynamic Strain ◽  
Dissimilar Metal ◽  
Hardening Rule ◽  
Weld Residual Stress ◽  
Dissimilar Metal Weld ◽  
Metal Weld

Weld residual stress (WRS) in dissimilar metal welds (DMWs) has been identified as an important driver for primary water stress corrosion cracking, which is observed in nuclear power plant safety-related components. In this work, a newly developed dynamic strain hardening rule is implemented in finite element (FE) thermal-mechanical model to simulate the residual stress distribution in a dissimilar metal weld studied in a recent NRC/EPRI Round Robin study. This new dynamic strain hardening constitutive rule takes into account the effect of dynamic recovery and recrystallization at elevated temperatures on the strain hardening behavior during welding. Weld residual stresses calculated using the new dynamic strain hardening rule are compared to those with the conventional strain hardening ones (isotropic and kinematic), as well as the experimental measurement data. The new dynamic strain hardening rule results in improvements in WRS prediction.

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