Pressurized thermal shock analyses of a reactor pressure vessel using critical crack depth diagrams

Abstract

Evaluated in this study is the pressure vessel integrity under a pressurized thermal shock. Using transient histories such as temperature, pressure and heat transfer coefficient, the stress distribution is calculated and then stress intensity factors are obtained for a wide range of crack sizes. The stress intensity factors are compared with the fracture toughness to check if cracking is expected to occur during the transient. Critical crack depth diagrams are prepared for each transient which is expected to initiate a pressurized thermal shock accident. Plant-specific analyses of the most limiting plant in Korea are performed to assure the structural integrity of the reactor vessel and the results are discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.