• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.311-322
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• 2013

High-Cr martensitic steel HT-9 is one of the candidate materials for advanced nuclear energy systems. Thanks to its excellent thermal conductivity and irradiation resistance, ferritic/martensitic steels such as HT-9 are considered for in-core applications of advanced nuclear reactors. The harsh neutron irradiation environments at the reactor core region pose a unique challenge for structural and cladding materials. Microstructural and microchemical changes resulting from displacement damage are anticipated for structural materials after prolonged neutron exposure. Consequently, various irradiation effects on the service performance of in-core materials need to be understood. In this work, the fundamentals of radiation damage and irradiation effects of the HT-9 martensitic steel are reviewed. The objective of this paper is to provide a background introduction of displacement damage, microstructural evolution, and subsequent effects on mechanical properties of the HT-9 martensitic steel under neutron irradiations. Mechanical test results of the irradiated HT-9 steel obtained from previous fast reactor and fusion programs are summarized along with the information of irradiated microstructure. This review can serve as a starting point for additional investigations on the in-core applications of ferritic/martensitic steels in advanced nuclear reactors.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.57-67
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• 2019

Water-induced strength reduction is one of the most critical causes for rock deformation and failure. Understanding the effects of water on the strength, toughness and deformability of rocks are of a great importance in rock fracture mechanics and design of structures in rock. However, only a few studies have been conducted to understand the effects of water on fracture properties such as fracture toughness, crack propagation velocity, consumed energy, and microstructural damage. Thus, in this study, we focused on the understanding of how microscale damages induced by water saturation affect mesoscale mechanical and fracture properties compared with oven dried specimens along three notch orientations-divider, arrester, and short transverse. The mechanical properties of calcite-cemented sandstone were examined using standard uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and Brazilian tensile strength (BTS) tests. In addition, fracture properties such as fracture toughness, consumed energy and crack propagation velocity were examined with cracked chevron notched Brazilian disk (CCNBD) tests. Digital Image Correlation (DIC), a non-contact optical measurement technique, was used for both strain and crack propagation velocity measurements along the bedding plane orientations. Finally, environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) was employed to investigate the microstructural damages produced in calcite-cemented sandstone specimens before and after CCNBD tests. As results, both mechanical and fracture properties reduced significantly when specimens were saturated. The effects of water on fracture properties (fracture toughness and consumed energy) were predominant in divider specimens when compared with arrester and short transverse specimens. Whereas crack propagation velocity was faster in short transverse and slower in arrester, and intermediate in divider specimens. Based on ESEM data, water in the calcite-cemented sandstone induced microstructural damages (microcracks and voids) and increased the strength disparity between cement/matrix and rock forming mineral grains, which in turn reduced the crack propagation resistance of the rock, leading to lower both consumed energy and fracture toughness ($K_{IC}$).

• 대한금속재료학회지
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• 제47권1호
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• pp.7-12
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• 2009

The detailed quantitative microstructural data on the cracking of coarse constituent particles in 7075 (T651) series wrought Al-alloys have been studied using the utility of a novel digital image processing technique, where the particle cracks are generated due to monotonic loading. The microstructural parameters such as number density, volume fraction, size distribution, first nearest neighbor distribution, and two-point correlation function have been quantitatively characterized using the developed technique and such data are very useful to verify and study the theoretical models for the damage evolution and fracture of Al-alloys. The data suggests useful relationships for damage modeling such as a linear relationship between particle cracking and strain exists for the uniaxial tensile loading condition, where the larger particles crack preferentially.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제17권8호
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• pp.425-432
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• 2007

The microstructural evolution of ferritic 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel, subjected to creep-fatigue at $550^{\circ}C$, was evaluated nondestructively by measuring the ultrasonic velocity. The variation of the ultrasonic velocity with the fatigue life fraction exhibited three regions. In the first region ($N/N_f$<0.2), a significant increase in the velocity was observed, followed by a slight increase between the fatigue life fractions of $0.2N_f$ and $0.8N_f$, and then a decrease in the final region. The change of the ultrasonic velocity during creep-fatigue was interpreted in relation to the microstructural properties. This study proposes an ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation method of quantifying the level of damage and microstructural change during the creep-fatigue of ferritic 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb steel.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.978-984
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• 2000

The aim of this study is to investigate the ductile fracture behaviour under Mode I loading using SA533B pressure vessel steel. Experiments consist of the Round Notch Bar Test (RNB), Single Edge Crack Bending Test (SECB), and V-Notch Bar Test (VNB). Results from the RNB test were used to tune the damage modelling constant. The other tests were performed to acquire the J-resistance curves and to confirm the damage constants. Microstructural observation includes the measurement of crack profile to obtain the roughness parameter. Finally, simulation using Rousellier Ductile Damage Theory (RDDT) was carried out with 4-node quadrilateral element ($L_c=0.25\;mm$). For the crack advance, the failed element removal technique was adopted with a ${\beta}$ criterion. In conclusion, the predicted simulation using RDDT showed a good agreement with the experimental results. A trial using a roughness parameter was made for a new evaluation of J-resistance curve, which is more conservative than the conventional one.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제5권4호
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• pp.483-494
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• 2009

Damage detection has been proven to be a challenging task in structural health monitoring (SHM) due to the fact that damage cannot be measured. The difficulty associated with damage detection is related to electing a feature that is sensitive to damage occurrence and evolution. This difficulty increases as the damage size decreases limiting the ability to detect damage occurrence at the micron and submicron length scale. Damage detection at this length scale is of interest for sensitive structures such as aircrafts and nuclear facilities. In this paper a new photonic sensor based on photonic crystal (PhC) technology that can be synthesized at the nanoscale is introduced. PhCs are synthetic materials that are capable of controlling light propagation by creating a photonic bandgap where light is forbidden to propagate. The interesting feature of PhC is that its photonic signature is strongly tied to its microstructure periodicity. This study demonstrates that when a PhC sensor adhered to polymer substrate experiences micron or submicron damage, it will experience changes in its microstructural periodicity thereby creating a photonic signature that can be related to damage severity. This concept is validated here using a three-dimensional integrated numerical simulation.

• 공업화학
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.347-351
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• 2020

재료는 방사선과 상호작용을 통해 그 물리적, 화학적 특성이 변화하며 여러 방사선 중에서 전하를 띄고 있지 않아 침투깊이가 깊은 중성자 조사에 의한 금속소재의 조사손상은 원자력발전소의 안전과 관련해서 오랜 기간 동안 집중적인 연구대상이었다. 중성자 조사에 의한 조사손상은 초반 피코 초 스케일에서 벌어지는 원자단위의 점결함의 생성으로 시작되며 그 이후의 전개 양상은 전위 고리나 공극과 같은 미세구조상 결함으로 확인될 수 있다. 이러한 미세구조 상 결함의 형상과 분포에 따라 소재의 특성에 미치는 효과는 상이하게 된다. 그러므로 중성자 조건에 따른 미세구조를 예측하는 것은 매우 중요한 일로, 본 논문에서는 중성자 조사에 의한 재료 내의 미세구조 발달에 대해 리뷰한 뒤 조사된 소재의 미세구조 변화 예측에 널리 사용될 수 있는 상장 모델에 대해 간략히 소개하였다.

• KEPCO Journal on Electric Power and Energy
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.25-31
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• 2018

A boiler system transforms water to pressured supercritical steam which drives the running of the turbine to rotate in the generator to produce electricity in power plants. Materials for building the tube system face challenges from high temperature creep damage, thermal fatigue/expansion, fireside and steam corrosion, etc. A database on the creep resistance strength and steam oxidation of the materials is important to the long-term reliable operation of the boiler system. Generally, the ferritic steels, i.e., grade 1, grade 2, grade 9, and X20, are extensively used as the superheater (SH) and reheater (RH) in supercritical (SC) and ultra supercritcal (USC) power plants. Currently, advanced austenitic steel, such as TP347H (FG), Super304H and HR3C, are beginning to replace the traditional ferritic steels as they allow an increase in steam temperature to meet the demands for increased plant efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to provide the state-of-the-art knowledge on boiler tube materials, including the strengthening, metallurgy, property/microstructural degradation, oxidation, and oxidation property improvement and then describe the modern microstructural characterization methods to assess and control the properties of these alloys. The paper covers the limited experience and experiment results with the alloys and presents important information on microstructural strengthening, degradation, and oxidation mechanisms.

• 비파괴검사학회지
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• 제27권5호
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• pp.417-425
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• 2007

보자력 측정을 통하여 페라이트기 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb 내열강의 크리프-피로변형 동안 미세조직의 변화를 평가하였다. 크리프-피로시험은 $550\;^{\circ}C$에서 각각 인장유지시간을 60초와 600초로 하여 수행 하였다. 보자력은 파단 전까지 감소하였고 경도는 파단 시까지 지속적으로 감소하였다. 크리프-피로 수명소비율이 증가함에 따라서 $M_{23}C_6$ 탄화물은 오스트왈드 성장기구를 따라서 조대화가 나타났지만 MX 탄질화물은 $550\;^{\circ}C$에서 안정하기 때문에 조대화가 나타나지 않았다. 마르텐사이트 래스 폭은 래스경계에서의 전위회복으로 인해 증가하였다. 보자력은 전위, 석출물 그리고 마르텐사이트 래스경계와 같은 미세조직적 특성에 영향을 받게 되며 이를 미세조직변화와 관련하여 이해하였다. 결과적으로, 본 연구는 페라이트기 9Cr-1Mo-V-Nb 내열강의 크리프-피로변형 동안 미세조직의 변화와 손상 정도를 보자력을 통하여 평가하는 것을 제안하였다.

• 콘크리트학회논문집
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• 제21권5호
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• pp.611-617
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• 2009

이 연구는 보통포틀랜드시멘트로 제조된 모르타르 및 페이스트 샘플의 황산염침식 저항성을 평가하기 위하여 수행되었다. 주요 실험변수는 사용된 황산염용액의 온도조건으로써, 각각 $4^{\circ}C$, $10^{\circ}C$ 및 $20^{\circ}C$로 유지된 5% 황산나트륨 용액에 침지한 모르타르의 침지재령별 팽창, 압축강도 및 휨강도를 측정 한 후, 황산염침식 저항성을 평가하였다. 뿐만 아니라, XRD, DSC 및 SEM/EDS와 같은 기기분석 기법을 이용하여 저온환경에 노출된 페이스트 샘플 중에 생성된 반응생성물 조사 및 미세구조 분석도 아울러 실시하였다. 실험 결과에 의하면, 황산염침식에 의한 모르타르의 성능 저하는 시험용액 온도에 매우 의존적으로 나타났으며, 특히, 저온환경에서는 쏘마싸이트의 생성으로 인한 성능 저하가 매우 극심하게 나타남을 확인할 수 있었다. 따라서, 저온의 황산염환경에 콘크리트구조물이 노출될 경우 세심한 주의가 요구된다.