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At least 163 records · Page 9

A Primer In Advanced Fatigue Life Prediction Methods

Metal fatigue has plagued structural components for centuries, and it remains a critical durability issue in today's aerospace hardware. This is true despite vastly improved and advanced materials, increased mechanistic understanding, and development of accurate structural analysis and advanced fatigue life prediction tools. Each advance is quickly taken advantage of to produce safer, more reliable more cost effective, and better performing products. In other words, as the envelop is expanded, components are then designed to operate just as close to the newly expanded envelop as they were to the initial one. The problem is perennial. The economic importance of addressing structural durability issues early in the design process is emphasized. Tradeoffs with performance, cost, and legislated restrictions are pointed out. Several aspects of structural durability of advanced systems, advanced materials and advanced fatigue life prediction methods are presented. Specific items include the basic elements of durability analysis, conventional designs, barriers to be overcome for advanced systems, high-temperature life prediction for both creep-fatigue and thermomechanical fatigue, mean stress effects, multiaxial stress-strain states, and cumulative fatigue damage accumulation assessment.

Halford, Gary R.↗

NASA GRC Fatigue Crack Initiation Life Prediction Models

Metal fatigue has plagued structural components for centuries, and it remains a critical durability issue in today's aerospace hardware. This is true despite vastly improved and advanced materials, increased mechanistic understanding, and development of accurate structural analysis and advanced fatigue life prediction tools. Each advance is quickly taken advantage of to produce safer, more reliable, more cost effective, and better performing products. In other words, as the envelope is expanded, components are then designed to operate just as close to the newly expanded envelope as they were to the initial one. The problem is perennial. The economic importance of addressing structural durability issues early in the design process is emphasized. Tradeoffs with performance, cost, and legislated restrictions are pointed out. Several aspects of structural durability of advanced systems, advanced materials and advanced fatigue life prediction methods are presented. Specific items include the basic elements of durability analysis, conventional designs, barriers to be overcome for advanced systems, high-temperature life prediction for both creep-fatigue and thermomechanical fatigue, mean stress effects, multiaxial stress-strain states, and cumulative fatigue damage accumulation assessment.

Arya, Vinod K.↗

Fatigue Behavior of a Third Generation PM Disk Superalloy

The fatigue behavior of a 3rd generation PM disk alloy, LSHR, was studied at 1300 F. Tensile, creep, and fatigue tests were run on smooth and notched (Kt = 2) bars under a variety of conditions. Analysis of smooth bar fatigue data, run under strain and load control with R ratios of 0 and -1, showed that a stress based Smith-Watson-Topper approach could collapse the data set. While the tensile and creep data showed substantial notch strengthening at 1300 F, the fatigue data showed a life deficit for the notch specimens. A viscoplastic finite element model, which accounted for stress relaxation at the notch tip, provided the best correlation between the notched and smooth bar behavior, although the fatigue data was not fully rationalized based on this simplified viscoplastic model of the stresses at the notch tip.Inclusion of a 90 sec dwell at peak load was found to dramatically decrease notch fatigue life. This result was shown to be consistent with a simple linear creep-fatigue damage rule, where creep damage dominated at low stresses and fatigue damage was more prevalent at higher stresses.

Gayda, John↗

Initial Characterization of the Second A709 Commercial Heat

In fiscal year 2021, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) received the second commercial heat of A709 in the plate-product form, heat 529900. The chemistry, microstructure, and mechanical properties of this heat were characterized. Heat 529900 met the chemistry and mechanical property requirements specified for UNS S31025 in American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A213 and American Society of Mechanical Engineers SA 213 for seamless tube which A709 was derived from. The microstructure of heat 529900 was comprised of equiaxed, recrystallized grains and elongated, unrecrystallized grains. The frequency of the unrecrystallized grains varied across the thickness of the plate with the highest frequency observed at the surface and none observed at the center. The equiaxed grain size of heat 529900 ranged from an ASTM grain size number 4 to an ASTM grain size number 6. The size of the equiaxed grains varied across the thickness of the plate with the coarsest grains located at the center of the plate. Additionally, the creep-fatigue properties of the second commercial heat were better than those of the first commercial heat.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Phase II Development of the Surveillance Test Articles to Improve the Design, Fabrication, and Testing

Advanced reactors, such as the molten salt reactor (MSR), require materials that will withstand harsher environments than the materials used for lower temperature water reactors. Materials used in MSR construction need not only withstand elevated temperature, temperature cycling, and neutron radiation, but must be able to withstand the corrosive molten salt environment. Significant materials research has been driven by the materials needs of the MSR due to the harsh environment and the material data requirements to support licensing. Limited operation experience with MSRs has made this challenging work. Information is very limited on materials degradation due to irradiation, molten salt corrosion, elevated temperature, and the resulting fatigue, creep, and creep-fatigue loading during operation. While efforts are underway to better understand the effects of this harsh environment on construction materials, the Advanced Reactors Technologies (ART) Program has been working to develop materials surveillance test articles that could be used in a materials surveillance program and allow for the collection of information on the materials degradation during plant operation and could support timely licensing of these advanced reactors.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

A Summary of the Microstructural Characterization Results for the A709 Commercial Heats

To improve high temperature strength for advanced nuclear reactors, it is necessary to qualify additional structural materials for introduction into the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (AMSE) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC). Specifically, Alloy 709 was identified as a material for Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors to enhance time-dependent mechanical properties compared to 316H stainless steel, a code qualified high temperature alloy. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) performed initial microstructure and mechanical property testing on a third, commercial heat of Alloy 709 stainless steel. The Alloy 709 plate was produced by Allegheny Technology Inc. (ATI) and in the solution annealed condition. The chemical composition was within the limits for an American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) A213 specification for seamless tube for material UNS S31025. Grain size was measured as an average ASTM size of 6.5, which was larger than the ASTM 7 required according to ASTM A213 for seamless tube. The chemical composition was within the limits for an ASTM A213, and the room temperature tensile tests and hardness data met ASTM A213 specifications. Creep-fatigue results showed similar behavior to previous heats of Alloy 709.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

A summary of the mechanical properties data developed in FY 2023 by ANL, INL and ORNL to support the data package development for the A709 Code Case

This report provides the status of tensile, creep, fatigue, and creep-fatigue testing to date conducted at Argonne National Laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to generate the data package required to qualify Alloy 709 in American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Division 5. The Division 5 Class A Alloy 709 Code Case requires data generated from a minimum of three commercial heats. Extensive mechanical properties data have been generated on two commercial heats, and some initial test data have been generated from the third commercial heat. The room temperature tensile test results for the three commercial heats met the specification minimum of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section II, Part A, SA-213/SA-213M for Grade TP310MoCbN (UNS S31025) seamless tubing. These three commercial heats of Alloy 709 are suitable for generating the code case data.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

A617 Notch Effect and Crack Growth Testing Status

This is an update on the Alloy 617 notched specimen creep testing and crack growth rate testing performed in FY23. Long-term notch testing continues, with some new results on double V-notch specimens. Creep-fatigue crack growth rate testing has begun and some preliminary results are shown.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Summary of Alloy 617 and Alloy 709 Elevated Temperature Crack Growth Test Results from the Planned FY24 Crack Growth Test Activities

This report covers the results from crack growth rate testing performed at Idaho National Laboratory in the fiscal year 2024. It includes two creep crack growth rate tests and two creep-fatigue crack growth rate tests. Results are shown for each of these tests, included crack growth measured during the test using direct current potential drop, and measurements based off of the fracture surface. Load line displacement, as well as load, were also collected during the tests. Detailed analysis of the results will continue into the next fiscal year, however, a number of potential improvements to the equipment and testing procedures were identified that will increase testing reliability and throughput, as well as decrease complications with the analysis.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Interim Development of new Class B Code Case with Variable Design Lifetime and enhanced design rules to guard against cyclic structural failure mode

This report summarizes updates on the ongoing development of the new American Society of Mechanical Engineers Section III, Division 5, Class B rules to address the potential failure modes of Class B components. An initial design-by-analysis approach and supporting design rules are presented. The elastic-perfectly plastic (EPP) analysis approach has been adopted for primary stress limit and ratcheting check to prevent the component failure against the structural failure mode against primary load and strain accumulation due to cyclic loads. The creep-fatigue damage assessment uses explicitly defined elastic follow-up calculated from the stress concentration region of given component. Damage fraction calculation uses a novel coupled approach to capture the influence of the elastic follow-up and provide adequate conservatism for Class B components. The proposed Class B rules does not use the stress classification approach and uses the combined loads to assess component.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High Temperature Materials

Overview of high temperature metals, including component construction rules for advanced reactor designs, assessment of filler metal for Alloy 800H weldments, high-temperature crack growth rate testing, work packages and contributors for FY24, creep-fatigue damage summation evaluation, GCR metal needs, and high temperature metals from other programs.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Fitness-for-Service Analysis of Reactor Components under Flexible Load-Following Operating Conditions

Conventional power-generation plants, including nuclear plants, have been traditionally designed to provide a steady baseload energy capacity, optimizing output efficiency while minimizing variable costs. However, the growing adoption of large-scale renewable energy-generation systems, which rely on intermittent sources such as solar and wind, has introduced more variability into the energy supply in interconnected electricity grids. As a result, the next generation of power plants needs to operate in what is known as the load-following mode, requiring flexible adjustments in electricity production to align with the energy demand on the grid. This transition from the steady baseload operation to load-following operating conditions can significantly increase the number of times various plant components are exposed to transient stresses. This increased thermo-mechanical cycling can lead to accelerated material degradation, thereby elevating the risk of premature failure of a component. It becomes imperative to conduct a comprehensive analysis of fatigue, creep-fatigue, and stress corrosion cracking life, to assess the resilience of the various engineering components under these flexible load-following operating conditions. This study aims to develop a comprehensive numerical model of a light-water reactor pressure vessel (RPV) to investigate its degradation under various operating scenarios. This coupled thermo-mechanical finite element analysis evaluated the stress response of the RPV caused by considering fluctuations in thermal and mechanical loads caused by the varying pressure and temperature occurring during the load-following operation. Critical locations on the RPV are subsequently identified based on the stress response. The stress intensity factors for the postulated flaws at those locations are then calculated, followed by an evaluation of the reactor's life in accordance with the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section XI. This comprehensive life assessment covers a number of transients expected during the flexible load-following operation, providing invaluable insights into the RPV's structural integrity. Moreover, the development methodology can be adapted to other reactor components, as well as components of conventional power stations that are affected by varying operating conditions.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Development of Surveillance Test Articles for Materials Degradation Management in MSR Environments

Materials in molten salt reactors (MSR) undergo accelerated degradation from corrosion, irradiation, and cyclic loads at elevated temperatures. Establishing a materials surveillance program to enable the assessment of material deterioration is critical to assure structural integrity of MSRs components. This presentation summarizes recent efforts towards the development of surveillance test articles for collecting various damages for monitoring materials degradation. Surveillance test articles with reduced dimensions were designed to capture creep-fatigue damage from cyclic loading at elevated temperatures. The strain evolution of test articles during thermal cycling was analyzed both numerically and experimentally. Out-of-reactor thermal cycling demonstrated successful capture of strain range for materials assessment. Moreover, test articles were subject to both mechanical loads and molten salt exposure, and the damage due to stress and corrosion was investigated. Additionally, damage inference models were developed to predict the remaining life of materials based on the accumulated damage in surveillance test articles.

36 - MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Structural design challenges and implications for high temperature concentrating solar power receivers

High operating temperatures along with diurnal cycling and high operating stresses bring many material and engineering challenges for concentrated solar power (CSP) receivers. Current design rules in ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel (B&PV) Code for high temperature structural components were not intended for CSP components. The paper reviews the design rules in several sections of ASME B&PV Code in terms of their applicability in designing high temperature CSP receivers. With some restrictions and modifications, the conditions assumed in the design rules in Section III, Division 5 of ASME B&PV Code are found to closely resemble the loading conditions of CSP receiver, including accounting for the interaction between creep and fatigue damage. Further, the paper applies the proposed design rules to an external tubular receiver design and discusses several lessons learned from the design study. The creep damage accumulation due to high thermal stresses resulting from circumferentially non-uniform flux distribution is found to control the design of CSP receivers. Several mitigation actions to improve the design life of receivers are also discussed.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

srlife : a software tool for estimating the life of high temperature concentrating solar receivers. Part I – metallic receivers

Here, this paper introduces srlife, a tool for estimating the structural service life of concentrating solar power (CSP) receivers operating at high temperatures. Supporting both metallic and ceramic receiver designs, srlife is available as open-source software at https://github.com/applied-material-modeling/srlife and can be installed via the PyPi package manager (https://pypi.org). Given basic receiver geometry and incident heat flux, the tool performs thermohydraulic and structural analysis and estimates the life of a receiver. Designed for easy integration into a software stack, including solar field and levelized cost analysis, the tool can be utilized for optimizing receiver designs to meet service life and economic targets. This paper is Part I in a two-part series. Part I discusses the analysis process used to estimate the life of metallic receivers, along with a description of the required input data. Additionally, several heuristics applied within srlife can reduce analysis time significantly while maintaining accurate life estimations for metallic receivers when compared to full analyses. Several examples demonstrating the utility of srlife in receiver design are also discussed. Part II focuses on the life estimation of ceramic receivers, using time-dependent reliability analysis and various ceramic failure models implemented in srlife.

Creep-fatigue analysis↗

Demonstration of the surveillance test article for an advanced reactor surveillance test program

Operational environments in generation IV reactors involve corrosive and irradiative conditions at elevated temperatures. Typical reactor operations consist of transients which impose cyclic loads on reactor components. These cyclic loads, combined with corrosive and irradiative environments, result in synergistic degradation of component materials. However, limited data exists on the coupled damage effects on materials for reactor environments. While the surrogate material surveillance concept has been used in light water reactors to assess irradiation damage, existing material surveillance technologies are not suitable for in-situ monitoring of coupled material degradation. The materials surveillance program focuses on material degradation management and the estimation of remaining life of reactor components through surveillance test articles. This paper presents the design and analysis methodology of a bi-metal surveillance test article, which uses difference in thermal expansion coefficient between two metals to induce in-situ cyclic loads. This report presents the work conducted in FY 25, to test the surveillance test article in air and salt environments. These test specimens were evaluated after thermal cycle exposure and remaining life is measured through creep test.

36 - MATERIALS SCIENCE↗