Proposal of simplified J-integral evaluation method for a through wall crack in SFR pipe made of Mod.9Cr-1Mo steel

周方向貫通き裂を有する改良9Cr-1Mo鋼製高速炉配管のJ積分評価法の提案

若井 隆純 ; 町田 秀夫*; 荒川 学*; 菊地 浩一*

Wakai, Takashi; Machida, Hideo*; Arakawa, Manabu*; Kikuchi, Koichi*

ナトリウム冷却高速炉(SFR)のLBB評価における不安定破壊評価に適用可能な簡易J積分評価法を提案した。改良9Cr-1Mo鋼は日本のSFR配管の候補材料であるが、従来のオーステナイト系ステンレス鋼と比較して、降伏強度が高く、破壊靭性は劣る。EPRIは全断面塑性解に基づく周方向貫通亀裂のJ積分評価法を提案しているが、SFR配管の形状および改良9Cr-1Mo鋼の材料特性は、この方法の適用範囲外である。したがって、周方向貫通亀裂を有する配管について一連の弾性、弾塑性および塑性有限要素解析(FEA)を実施し、SFR配管に適用可能なJ積分評価法を開発した。FEAから得られたJ積分を、弾性、小規模降伏および大規模降伏の各成分に分解し、それぞれを配管形状、亀裂寸法、材料特性などの関数として多項式近似することで、簡便なJ積分評価法を提案したことにより、破壊力学の知識がなくてもJ積分を用いて2パラメータ法による破壊評価を行うことを可能とした。

A simplified J-integral evaluation method applicable to unstable failure analysis in Leak Before Break (LBB) assessment of Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) in Japan was proposed. Mod.9Cr-1Mo steel is supposed to be a candidate material for the coolant systems of SFR in Japan. This steel has relatively high yield strength and poor fracture toughness comparing to those of conventional austenitic stainless steels. In addition, SFR pipe has small thickness and large diameter. As a J-integral evaluation method for circumferential through-wall crack in a cylinder, EPRI has proposed a fully plastic solution method. However, the geometry of SFR pipe and material characteristics of Mod.9Cr-1Mo steel exceed the applicable range of EPRI's method. Therefore, a series of elastic, elasto-plastic and plastic finite element analyses (FEA) were performed for a pipe with a circumferential through-wall crack to propose a J-integral evaluation method applicable to such loading conditions. J-integrals obtained from the FEA were resolved into elastic, local plastic and fully plastic components. Each component was expressed as a function of analytical parameter, such as pipe geometries, crack size, material characteristics and so on. As a result, a simplified J-integral evaluation method was proposed. The method enables to conduct 2 parameter failure analysis using J-integral without any fracture mechanics knowledge.