Mechanical properties of welded joint at cryogenic temperature for manufacturing of ITER TF Coil Structure

Sakurai, Takeru; Iguchi, Masahide; Nakahira, Masataka; Saito, Toru; Koizumi, Norikiyo

IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, 26(4), p.4204705_1 - 4204705_5, 2016/06

http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TASC.2016.2539686

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) has responsibility to procure 9 Toroidal Field (TF) coils and 19 TF coil structures for ITER project. A TF coil structure consists of the main body structure having D-shape with 13.6 m of height and 9 m of width in which a superconducting winding pack is enclosed and the components to connect adjacent TF coils or other surrounding components. TF coil structures are manufactured from austenitic stainless steel having high tensile strength and fracture toughness at cryogenic temperature (4K) in order to ensure the huge electromagnetic force. As structural materials, austenitic stainless steel having high Manganese and Nitrogen which was named as JJ1 and high Nitrogen containing 316LN stainless steel are applied. These materials are welded each other by Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding with FMYJJ1, which had been developed for welding material based on JJ1. The cryogenic mechanical properties of welded joints which have over 200 mm of actual thickness are limited due to less demonstration of such a heavy thick joints. In addition, destructive test specimens cannot be taken from actual TF coil structure. Hence, it is necessary to confirm actual thickness of welded joint performance by actual welding conditions mock-up. JAEA manufactured some welded joint mock-ups having the same welding thickness and combination of base materials as actual TF coil structure by applying actual welding conditions. JAEA measured mechanical properties of tensile and fracture toughness in liquid Helium environment by using test specimens taken from these welded joint mock-ups. This study reports these mechanical test results of welded joints at cryogenic temperature. "The view and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ITER Organization."