• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.113-121
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• 2014

In this work, an integrated model including molecular dynamics and chemical rate theory was implemented to calculate the growth of point defect clusters(PDC) and copper-rich precipitates(CRP) which could change the mechanical properties of reactor pressure vessel(RPV) steels in a nuclear power plant. A number of time-dependent differential equations were established and numerically integrated to estimate the evolution of irradiation defects. The calculation showed that the concentration of the vacancies was higher than that of the self-interstitial atoms. The higher concentration of vacancies induced a formation of the CRPs in the later stage. The size of the CRPs was used to estimate the mechanical property changes in RPV steels, as is the same case with the PDCs. The calculation results were compared with the measured values of yield strength change and Charpy V-notch transition temperature shift, which were obtained from the surveillance test data of Korean light water reactors(LWRs). The estimated values were in fair agreement with the experimental results in spite of the uncertainty of the modeling parameters.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.908-913
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• 2000

In the process of integrity evaluation for nuclear power plant components, a series of fracture mechanics evaluation on surface cracks in reactor pressure vessel(RPV) must be conducted. These fracture mechanics evaluations are based on stress intensity factor, K. However, under pressurized thermal shock(PTS) conditions, the combination of thermal and mechanical stress by steep temperature gradient and internal pressure causes considerably high tensile stress at the inside of RPV wall. Besides, the internal pressure during the normal operation produces high tensile stress at the RPV wall. As a result cracks on inner surface of RPVs may experience elastic-plastic behavior which can be explained with J-integral. In such a case, however, J-integral may possibly lose its validity due to constraint effect. In this paper, in order to verify the suitability of J-integral, two dimensional finite element analyses were applied for various surface crack. Total of 18 crack geometries were analyzed, and Q stresses were obtained by comparing resulting HRR stress distribution with corresponding actual stress distributions. In conclusion, HRR stress fields were found to overestimate the actual crack-tin stress field due to constraint effect.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.307-312
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• 2001

Ultrasonic signals from Charpy impact test specimen have been analyzed in order to evaluate the integrity of reactor pressure vessel. Base and weld metal that were extracted from reactor vessel doting plant outages according to the schedule of the surveillance test required by the related regulations have been used and the ultrasonic test parameters including velocity, attenuation, etc. showed a close correlations with the amount of neutron irradiation for base metal, relatively homogeneous materials. This result showed certain possibility where a nondestructive method could be used to predict the fluence of the Irradiation due to neutron in nuclear reactor vessel materials.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.42-46
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• 2010

The evaluation method for the failure frequency of reactor vessel under pressurized thermal shock(PTS) is developed using probabilistic fracture mechanics. The probabilistic reactor integrity evaluation code, named R-PIE code, is developed. The validity and uncertainty of the R-PIE code is investigated. The reactor failure frequencies under PTS for Kori-1 nuclear power plant and other type of domestic nuclear power plants are evaluated. The reference PTS temperature for domestic nuclear power plants is obtained for the rule making against PTS failure.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.111-119
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• 1995

The elastic-plastic fracture toughness($J_{IC}$) and fracture resistance (J-R curve) of SA508-3 alloy steel used for nuclear reactor pressure vessel are investigated by using CT-type specimens. Fracture toughness tests are conducted by unloading compliance method and multiple specimen method at room temperature, -2$0^{\circ}C$ and 20$0^{\circ}C$. The apparent negative crack growth phenomenon which usually arises in partial unloading compliance test is well known. The negative crack growth phenomenon in determining J sub(IC) or J-R cure from partial unloading compliance experiments may be eliminated by the offset technique. In this study, the evaluation of $J_{IC}$ multiple specimen method recommended by the JSME gives the most reliable results by using half-size CT(similar-type) specimens.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.293-297
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• 2019

Quasi-nano-hardness and corrosion behaviors of neutron-irradiated reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels such as 15Ch2MFA (Ni<0.4, 2.520 n/㎠ (En>1.0 MeV) for 32 days. Quasi-nano-hardnesses of the 15Ch2MFA and 15Cr2NHFA steels were 183.8 and 179.8 Hv, respectively. Their corrosion rates and corrosion potentials were 2.4×10^-4Acm^-2, -515.9 mV_SHE and 6.8×10^-4 Acm^-2, -523.6 mV_SHE in NACE standard TM0284-96 solution at room temperature, respectively. 15Ch2MFA steel showed better quasi-nano-hardness and corrosion resistance than 15Cr2NHFA steel in this test condition.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.179-184
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• 2009

The Fuel Test Loop(FTL) which is capable of an irradiation testing under a similar operating condition to those of PWR(Pressurized Water Reactor) and CANDU(CANadian Deuterium Uranium reactor) nuclear power plants has been developed and installed in HANARO, KAERI(Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute). It consists of In-Pile Section(IPS) and Out-of Pile System(OPS). The IPS, which is located inside the pool is divided into 3-parts; the in-pool pipes, the IVA(IPS Vessel Assembly) and the support structures. The test fuel is loaded inside a double wall, inner pressure vessel and outer pressure vessel, to keep the functionality of the reactor coolant pressure boundary. The IVA is manufactured by local company and the functional test and verification were done through pressure drop, vibration, hydraulic and leakage tests. The brazing technique for the instrument lines has been checked for its functionality and performance. An IVA has been manufactured by local technique and have finally tested under high temperature and high pressure. The IVA and piping did not experience leakage, as we have checked the piping, flanges, assembly parts. We have obtained good data during the three cycle test which includes a pressure test, pressure and temperature cycling, and constant temperature.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.3320-3325
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• 2023

The scaled water-cooled Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS) experimental facility reproduces a passive safety feature to be implemented in Generation IV nuclear reactors. It keeps the reactor cavity and other internal structures in operational conditions by removing heat leakage from the reactor pressure vessel. The present work uses Flownex one-dimensional thermal-fluid code to model the facility and predict the experimental thermal-hydraulic behavior. Two representative steady-state cases defined by the bulk volumetric flow rate are simulated (Re = 2,409 and Re = 11,524). Results of the cavity outlet temperature, risers' temperature profile, and volumetric flow split in the cooling panel are also compared with the experimental data and RELAP system code simulations. The comparisons are in reasonable agreement with the previous studies, demonstrating the ability of Flownex to simulate the RCCS behavior. It is found that the low Re case of 2,409, temperature and flow split are evenly distributed across the risers. On the contrary, there's an asymmetry trend in both temperature and flow split distributions for the high Re case of 11,524.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.121-125
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• 2012

The large forgings used in chemical plants or nuclear power plants are produced by complex heat treatment. because of thickness up to 200~300 mm and weight up to 200~300 ton, setting proper heat treatment cycle is so difficult. In addition, defects of products make companies wasting large money and valuable time. In this study, to reduce try & err, when setting heat treatment of reactor pressure vessel steel SA508Gr.3, carrying out the basic mechanical property test of SA508 Gr.3 and testing hardness of SA508Gr.3 in various tempering temperature. and calculating temper curve with Hollomon-Jaffe parameter.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.7
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• pp.2407-2417
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• 2021

A structural integrity evaluation program (STEP) was developed for the high temperature reactor design evaluation according to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME B&PV), Section III, Rules for Construction of Nuclear Facility Components, Division 5, High Temperature Reactors, Subsection HB. The program computerized HBB-3200 (the design by analysis procedures for primary stress intensities in high temperature services) and Appendix T (HBB-T) (the evaluation procedures for strain, creep and fatigue in high temperature services). For evaluation, the material properties and isochronous curves presented in Section II, Part D and HBB-T were computerized for the candidate materials for high temperature reactors. The program computerized the evaluation procedures and the constants for the weldment. The program can generate stress/temperature time histories of various loads and superimpose them for creep damage evaluation. The program increases the efficiency of high temperature reactor design and eliminates human errors due to hand calculations. Comparisons that verified the evaluation results that used the STEP and the direct calculations that used the Excel confirmed that the STEP can perform complex evaluations in an efficient and reliable way. In particular, fatigue and creep damage assessment results are provided to validate the operating conditions with multiple types of cycles.