Semi-analytical modeling of a PWR lower head failure under severe accident conditions using an axisymetrical shell theory

Koundy, V.; Cormeau, I.

doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2004.11.013

Cited by 12 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 2 publications

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“…The tests led to the same conclusions about the material behaviour variability as the LHF-OLHF tests for the French material. Some simplified numerical analysis were made in order to simulate these tests [7][8][9][10]. From this established fact, a lot of tests were carried out in order to characterize the French material behaviour (16MND5) according to its steel grades [11].…”

Section: Pvp2009-77258mentioning

confidence: 99%

Unstable Crack Propagation Under Severe Accident Scenario Conditions in a Pressurized Water Reactor

Tardif

Coret

Combesure

2009

Volume 5: High Pressure Technology; Nondestructive Evaluation Division; Student Paper Competition

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In the case of a severe accident scenario of a pressurized water reactor which includes cracking of the vessel bottom head, it is crucial to predict the leak rate and hence the crack size for the ex-vessel accident management. We present an experimental framework to analyze the crack propagation under such severe conditions for different 16MND5 French nuclear steel grades. An original experimental setup has been designed in order to perform bi-axial tests (tensile load independent of internal pressure) at high temperatures (1180K – 1280K) on tubular test specimens. The temperature loading and the mechanical loading can be set to reproduce the stress distribution of the hemispherical vessel bottom head submitted to an internal pressure. Moreover, the test was designed to be easily transposable to the real structure in terms of crack propagation and depressurization thanks to an energy based scaling methodology. We observed the crack initiation and propagation with two high speed digital cameras. Force, internal pressure, displacement and temperature fields were also measured and synchronized with the optical measurements. The different creep stages are observed and characterized. The crack propagation and opening history have been measured. During crack initiation and propagation stages, the depressurization can be correlated with the crack geometry. Finally, the setup has been designed in order to validate future numerical analysis.

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