• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.29 no.9 s.240
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• pp.1225-1234
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• 2005

Mode I stress intensity factor $(K_I)$ of Notched Ring Test(NRT) specimen for measuring slow crack growth resistance was found using finite-element method. The theoretical $K_I$ value of NRT was not available in any references and could not be solved analytically. At first, in order to verify the accuracy of the finite-element approach, published $K_I$ values of several cracks were calculated and compared with finite-element results. The results were in good agreement within inherent errors of theoretical $K_I$. Finally the mode I stress intensity factor of NRT was found using 2- and 3-dimensional finite-element methods and expressed as a function of the applied load. This enabled direct comparison of resistance to slow crack growth between NRT and Notched Pipe Test(NPT), which employ different loading regime.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.405-413
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• 2015

In the US, the number of cases of subterranean water contamination from tritium leaking through a damaged buried nuclear power plant pipe continues to increase, and the degradation of the buried metal piping is emerging as a major issue. A pipe blocked from corrosion and/or degradation can lead to loss of cooling capacity in safety-related piping resulting in critical issues related to the safety and integrity of nuclear power plant operation. The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes Committee (BPVC) has recently approved Code Case N-755 that describes the requirements for the use of polyethylene (PE) pipe for the construction of Section III, Division 1 Class 3 buried piping systems for service water applications in nuclear power plants. This paper contains tensile and slow crack growth (SCG) test results for high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe welds under the environmental conditions of a nuclear power plant. Based on these tests, the fracture surface of the PENT specimen was analyzed, and the fracture mechanisms of each fracture area were determined. Finally, by using 3D finite element analysis, limit loads of HDPE related to premature failure were verified.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2011

The virgin and recycled polyethylene composites with various ratio of fly ash were manufactured by using a fully intermeshing co-rotating twin screw extruder for the reuse of fly ash from power plant and post-consumed polyethylene. Fly ash were blended with virgin HDPE and recycled polyethylene at the weight fraction of 0 to 40 wt.%. Mechanical properties such as yield strength, abrasion resistance, and slow crack resistance were measured with ISO and ASTM standards. The experimental results for the various composites showed that the elongation at break and the yield stress of the composites decreased with increasing fly ash contents. Generally, the abrasion resistance of PEs decreased with increasing sandpaper grits but the abrasion resistance of the composites increased with fly ash content at finer abrasive surface. The slow crack growth resistance of virgin HDPE, recycled JRPE and the JRPE composite showed higher slow crack growth resistance up to 50% of load at notch depth of 20% and 30%, but KRPE and the KRPE composite showed much lower resistance than virgin HDPE, JRPE and the JRPE composite. Time to break, measured with NCLS test method, of all PEs and the composites satisfies the regulation of Korean Industrial Specification for sewer pipe and support application.