Improvement of probabilistic fracture mechanics analysis code PASCAL-SP with regard to PWSCC

Mano, Akihiro ; Yamaguchi, Yoshihito ; Katsuyama, Jinya  ; Li, Y. 

Probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM) analysis is expected as a rational method for the structural integrity assessment because it can consider the uncertainties of various influence factors and can evaluate the quantitative value such as failure probability of a cracked component as the solution. In the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, a PFM analysis code PASCAL-SP has been developed for the structural integrity assessment of piping welds in nuclear power plants. In the latest few decades, a number of cracks due to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) have been detected in the nickel-based alloy welds in the primary piping of pressurized water reactors (PWRs). Thus the structural integrity assessment taking account of PWSCC has become important. In this paper, we improved PASCAL-SP for the assessment considering PWSCC by introducing the several analytical functions such as the evaluation models of crack initiation time, crack growth rate and probability of crack detection. By using improved PASCAL-SP, the failure probabilities of pipes with a circumferential crack or an axial crack due to PWSCC were evaluated as numerical examples. We also evaluated the influence of a leak detection and a non-destructive examination on the failure probabilities. On the basis of the numerical results, we concluded that the improved PASCAL-SP is useful for evaluating the failure probability of pipe taking PWSCC into account.