S. E. Gould

Bio: S. E. Gould is an academic researcher from Burton Snowboards. The author has contributed to research in topics: Pressure vessel & Welding. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 5 citations.

Modelling the Fabrication of a Pressure Vessel Toroidal Seal

Abstract: Welding remains the key process in fabricating, as well as repairing, pressure vessel systems. Unfortunately, many manufacturing and through life service problems occur in or near welded regions. The through life integrity of welded components, e.g. distortion, fatigue, fracture, metallurgy and corrosion control remains a key challenge for structural integrity. The work reported in this paper investigates the complex manufacture and assembly of a pressure vessel toroidal seal. The seal is first created by depositing a series of austenitic welds onto a ferritic pressure vessel to build up a plinth, thus forming a transition weld. The transition weld is then subject to a high temperature Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) to stress relieve the welds and to temper the HAZ in the welds. An austenitic toroidal ring is positioned onto the plinths and welded in place thus forming the toroidal seal. The seal is manufactured from a 347 austenitic stainless steel comprising good ductility and corrosion resistance. The manufacture of the seal is simulated using 2D axisymmetric finite element analysis that are available to support both the design and integrity analysis of welded components. As well as the inherent residual stresses associated with welding, additional effects are important, for instance the austenitic to ferritic transition welds between the vessel body and plinths. This paper presents a novel approach to the simulation of weld metal deposition that is ideally suited to the modelling of transition welds and subsequent PWHT. The plinth welds undergo PWHT and so the creep behaviour of the welds is simulated. A series of intermittent as well as end of manufacture PWHT’s are investigated. Additionally the choice of material hardening law for the austenic weldment is studied. The full manufacturing history of the seal is taken into account within the analysis including welding, component machining and component geometry fit up.Copyright © 2007 by ASME and Rolls-Royce PLC

Sensitivity analyses of finite element method for estimating residual stress of dissimilar metal multi-pass weldment in nuclear power plant

Abstract: In nuclear power plants, ferritic low alloy steel components were connected with austenitic stainless steel piping system through alloy 82/182 butt weld. There have been incidents recently where cracking has been observed in the dissimilar metal weld. Alloy 82/182 is susceptible to primary water stress corrosion cracking. Weld-induced residual stress is main factor for crack growth. Therefore exact estimation of residual stress is important for reliable operating. This paper presents residual stress computation performed by 6” safety & relief nozzle. Based on 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional finite element analyses, effect of welding variables on residual stress variation is estimated for sensitivity analysis. 1. 서 론 최근 V.C Summer 원전 등에서 이종금속용접부 (Dissimilar Metal Weld) 균열이 관찰되었다. (1~3) 균열은 Inconel 계열 용접 금속에서 발생하였으며 일차수응력부식균열(PWSCC)이 균열의 주요 발생 원인이었다. 일차수응력부식균열은 재료의 민감도, 용접부 인장 잔류 응력 및 사용 중 하중(In-service load), 부식 환경과 같은 3가지 인자의 상호작용에 의해 발생한다. (2,4,5)

Estimation of Residual Stress Distribution for Pressurizer Nozzle of Kori Nuclear Power Plant Considering Safe End

Abstract: In nuclear power plants, ferritic low alloy steel nozzle was connected with austenitic stainless steel piping system through alloy 82/182 butt weld. Accurate estimation of residual stress for weldment is important in the sense that alloy 82/182 is susceptible to stress corrosion cracking. There are many results which predict residual stress distribution for alloy 82/182 weld between nozzle and pipe. However, nozzle and piping system usually connected through safe end which has short length. In this paper, residual stress distribution for pressurizer nozzle of Kori nuclear power plant was predicted using FE analysis, which consideded safe end. As a result, existing residual stress profile was redistributed and residual stress of inner surface was decreased specially. It means that safe end should be considered to reduce conservatism when estimating the piping system. 1. 서 론 최근 들어 V.C Summer, Ringhals 및 Tsuruga 2 등의 원전 이종 금속 용접부(DMW, Dissimilar Metal Weld)에서 (1,2)균열이 발생되었다. 균열의 위치는 상대적으로 운전 압력 및 운전 온도가 높은 원자로(reactor) 및 가압기(pressurizer)의 노즐 용접부로서 균열의 원인은 용접부 금속인 니켈 합금(Alloy 82/182) 재료의 일차수 응력부식균열(PWSCC)로 판명되었다. Alloy 82/182 재료는 응력 부식 균열에 민감하다고 알려져 있으며 주로 이종 금속 용접부 용접 재료로 사용되었다. 응력부식균열은 재료의 민감도, 수화학 환경 및 용접 잔류응력(welding residual stress)의 상호 작용에 의해 발생한다.

Sensitivity analysis of finite element parameters for estimating residual stress of J-groove weld in RPV CRDM penetration nozzle

Abstract: In nuclear power plants, the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) upper head control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) penetration nozzles are fabricated using J-groove weld geometry. Recently, the incidences of cracking in Alloy 600 CRDM nozzles and their associated welds have increased significantly. The cracking mechanism has been attributed to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC), and it has been shown to be driven by welding residual stresses and operational stresses in the weld region. The weld-induced residual stress is the main factor contributing to crack growth. Therefore, an exact estimation of the residual stress is important for ensuring reliable operation. This study presents the residual stress computation performed for an RPV CRDM penetration nozzle in Korea. Based on two and three dimensional finite element analyses, the effect of welding variables on the residual stress variation is estimated for sensitivity analysis.