• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.265-276
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• 2013

Pressure tubes made of Zr-2.5 wt% Nb alloy are important components consisting reactor coolant pressure boundary of a pressurized heavy water reactor, in which unanticipated through-wall cracks and rupture may occur due to a delayed hydride cracking (DHC). The Canadian Standards Association has provided deterministic and probabilistic structural integrity evaluation procedures to protect pressure tubes against DHC. However, intuitive understanding and subsequent assessment of flaw behaviors are still insufficient due to complex degradation mechanisms and diverse influential parameters of DHC compared with those of stress corrosion cracking and fatigue crack growth phenomena. In the present study, a deterministic flaw assessment program was developed and applied for systematic integrity assessment of the pressure tubes. Based on the examination results dealing with effects of flaw shapes, pressure tube dimensional changes, hydrogen concentrations of pressure tubes and plant operation scenarios, a simple and rough method for effective cooldown operation was proposed to minimize DHC risks. The developed deterministic assessment program for pressure tubes can be used to derive further technical bases for probabilistic damage frequency assessment.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.1192-1197
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• 2003

The aim of this study is to investigate the hydride embrittlement when the LBB evaluation is carried out for the integrity of PHWR Pressure Tubes. The transverse tensile and CCT tests were performed at three hydrogen concentrations while the test temperatures were changed (RT to $300^{\circ}C$). The specimens were directly machined from the pressure tube retaining original curvature. Both the transverse tensile and the fracture toughness tests showed the hydrogen embrittlement clearly at RT but this phenomenon was disappeared while the test temperature arrived over $250^{\circ}C$. Using the DHC test results, the CCL and LBB time were calculated and compared. The hydride embrittlement behavior at the LBB evaluation was definitely showed.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.610-616
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• 2004

The aim of this study was to investigate the hydride embrittlement when the LBB evaluation was carried out for the integrity of PHWR Pressure Tubes. The transverse tensile and CCT toughness tests were performed at three hydrogen concentrations while the test temperatures were changed (RT to 30$0^{\circ}C$). Both the transverse tensile and the fracture toughness tests showed the hydrogen embitterment clearly at RT but this phenomenon was disappeared while the test temperature arrived at 25$0^{\circ}C$. Using the DHC test results, the CCL and LBB time were calculated and compared. The hydride embrittlement at the LBB evaluation made the LBB time short definedly. If the operating temperature, DHCV and LBB deterministic parameters such as A and m were known, LBB time could be estimated without the calculation of CCL.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2024

Rotating beams play a crucial role in representing complex mechanical components that are prevalent in vital sectors like energy and transportation industries. These components are susceptible to the initiation and propagation of cracks, posing a substantial risk to their structural integrity. This study presents a two-stage methodology for detecting the location and estimating the size of an open-edge transverse crack in a rotating Euler-Bernoulli beam with a uniform cross-section. Understanding the dynamic behavior of beams is vital for the effective design and evaluation of their operational performance. In this regard, modal parameters such as natural frequencies and eigenmodes are frequently employed to detect and identify damages in mechanical components. In this instance, the Frobenius method has been employed to determine the first two natural frequencies and corresponding eigenmodes associated with flapwise bending vibration. These calculations have been performed by solving the governing differential equation that describes the motion of the beam. Various parameters have been considered, such as rotational speed, beam slenderness, hub radius, and crack size and location. The effect of the crack has been replaced by a rotational spring whose stiffness represents the increase in local flexibility as a result of the damage presence. In the initial phase of the proposed methodology, a damage index utilizing the slope of the beam's eigenmode has been employed to estimate the location of the crack. After detecting the presence of damage, the size of the crack is determined using a Genetic Algorithm optimization technique. The ultimate goal of the proposed methodology is to enable the development of more suitable and reliable maintenance plans.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.19
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• pp.245-251
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• 1999

The joint in the concrete pavement provides a control against transverse or longitudinal cracking at slab, which may be caused by temperature or moisture variation during or after hydration. Without control of cracking, random crack may cause more serious distresses and result in structural or functional failure of pavement system. Sometimes, joint itself, purposed to control crack, may cause a distresses in joint due to its inherent weakness in structural integrity. Thus, the load transfer capacity in joint is very important for serviceability and durability. The purpose of this dissertation was to develop an evaluation system at joints of jointed concrete pavement using finite element analysis was performed using ILLI-SLAB program with a selected variables which might affect fairly to on the performance of transverse joints. The most significant variables were selected from precise analysis. It was concluded that the variables which most significantly affect to pavement deflections are the modulus of subgrade reaction(K) and the modulus of dowel/concrete interaction(G), and limiting criteria on the performance of joints at JCP at 300pci, 500,000 lb/in. respectively.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.345-350
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• 2001

In order to perform elastic-plastic fracture mechanical analyses, fracture resistance curves for concerned materials are required. 1T-CT specimen was used to obtain fracture resistance curves. But the fracture resistance curve by the 1T-CT specimen was very conservative to evaluate the integrity of the structure. And fracture resistance curve was affected by the specimen geometry and crack plane orientation. The objective of this paper is to be certain the conservativeness of the fracture resistance curve by the 1T-CT specimen and to provide the additional safety margin. For these, the fracture tests using the real pipe specimen and standard 1T-CT specimen test were performed. 4-point bending jig was manufactured for pipe test and direct current potential drop method was used to measure the crack extension and length for pipe test. From the pipe and the 1T-CT specimen test results, it was observed that the J-integral of the 1T-CT specimen test at the crack initiation point was very small compare to that of the pipe specimen test.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.1975-1988
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• 2024

It is important to maintain cladding integrity in spent nuclear fuel management. This study proposes a numerical analysis method to evaluate the fracture resistance of irradiated zirconium alloy cladding under pinch load known to cause Mode-III failure. The mechanical behavior and fracture of the cladding under pinch loading can be evaluated by a Ring Compression Test (RCT). To simulate the fracture of hydride precipitates, zirconium matrix, and Zr/hydride interfaces under the stress field generated by RCT, a micro-structure crack propagation simulation method based on Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM) has been proposed. Our RCT simulation model was constructed from microscopic images of irradiated cladding. In this study, we developed an automated process to generate a pixel-based finite element model by separating the hydride precipitates, zirconium matrix, and interfaces using an image segmentation method. The appropriate element size was selected to ensure the efficiency and accuracy of a crack propagation simulation. The load-displacement curves and strain energies from RCT were compared and analyzed with the simulation results of different element sizes. The finalized RCT simulation model can be used to establish the failure criterion of fuel rods under pinch loading. The advantages and limitations of the proposed method are fully discussed here.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.22-33
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• 1986

The application and development of on-line monitoring technology of AE to surveillance of crack propagation will contribute to the structural integrity of reactor pressure vessel and piping system. This research has been performed in order to obtain the evaluation technology for source location of AE and the analysis for the AE signal of the welded specimen. AE is detected by 4-channels AE system during pressurization in small pressure vessels. The cracking of artificial defects can be accurately located and categorized in real time. The welded specimens have more events rate and higher amplitude than the weldless less specimens, and the events rate have a peak around the yield point and just before the failure under tensile test.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.2089-2095
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• 2002

Ceramic/metal composites have many attractive properties and great potential fur applications. Interfacial fracture properties of different layered composites are important in material integrity. Therefore, evaluation of fracture toughness at interface is required in essence. In this study, the mechanical characteristics for interface of ceramic/metal composites were investigated by indentation test of micro-hardness method. Apparent interfacial toughness of TBC system could be determined with a relation between the applied load and the length of the crack formed at the interface by indentation test.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.269-274
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• 2008

For fitness-for-service analyses of underground natural gas pipelines, engineering assessment methods against possible defects need to be developed. The assessment methods for high pressure pipeline of KOGAS, was developed using the full size pipe burst tests and the finite element analysis. It included the defect assessment methods for a single and multi-corrosion, corrosion in girth welding part, corrosion in seam welding part, the mechanical damage defects as dent and gouge, crack and large plastic deformation of API 5L X65 pipe. In addition, we developed method to assess pipeline integrity by internal and external load to buried pipeline. Evaluation results were compared with other methods currently being applied to the gas pipeline. The program of Windows environment is made for easily using assessment methods. It provides a consistent user interface, so non-professional technician can easily and friendly use the FFS program from company intranet. Several evaluation programs is easily installed using one installer. Each program constitutes a common input interface and the output configuration program, and evaluation result store and can be recalled at any time. The FFS program based on independent evaluation method is used to evaluate the integrity and safety of KOGAS pipeline, and greatly contribute to safe and efficient operation of pipeline. This paper presents experimental, analytical and numerical investigations to develop the FFS methods for KOGAS pipeline, used as high pressure natural gas transmission pipeline within KOREA. Also, it includes the description of the integrated program for FFS methods.