Development of LBB assessment method for Japan Sodium Cooled Fast Reactor (JSFR) pipes, 4; Verification of crack opening displacement assessment method for thin wall pipes made of Mod.9Cr-1Mo steel

Wakai, Takashi ; Machida, Hideo*; Yoshida, Shinji*; Kawashima, Fumiko*; Kikuchi, Koichi*; Xu, Y.*; Tsukimori, Kazuyuki

This paper describes the improved COD assessment method and verifies the validity of the method based on the results of a series of four-point bending tests at elevated temperature using thin wall modified 9Cr-1Mo steel pipe containing a circumferential through wall crack. As a result, COD values calculated by the proposed method were in a good agreement with the experimental results for the uniform pipe without weld. In the case that the crack was machined at weld metal or heat affected zone (HAZ), proposed method predicted relatively larger COD than the experimental results. The causes of such discrepancies were discussed comparing with the results of finite element analyses. Based on these examinations, the rational leak rate evaluation method in LBB assessment was proposed.