Volume 46, Issue 9 pp. 3342-3359
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Creep behavior and life prediction of a reactor pressure vessel steel above phase-transformation temperature via a deformation mechanism-based creep model

Chuanyang Lu

Chuanyang Lu

Institute of Process Equipment and Control Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China

MOE Key Laboratory of Pressure Systems and Safety, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China

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Peng Wang

Peng Wang

Institute of Process Equipment and Control Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China

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Silu Zheng

Silu Zheng

Institute of Process Equipment and Control Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China

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Xijia Wu

Xijia Wu

Structures and Materials Performance Laboratory, Institute for Aerospace Research, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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Rong Liu

Rong Liu

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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Yanming He

Corresponding Author

Yanming He

Institute of Process Equipment and Control Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China

Engineering Research Center of Process Equipment and Remanufacturing, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China

Correspondence

Yanming He, Institute of Process Equipment and Control Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.

Email: [email protected]

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Jianguo Yang

Jianguo Yang

Institute of Process Equipment and Control Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China

Engineering Research Center of Process Equipment and Remanufacturing, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China

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Zengliang Gao

Zengliang Gao

Institute of Process Equipment and Control Engineering, College of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China

Engineering Research Center of Process Equipment and Remanufacturing, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China

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Shan-Tung Tu

Shan-Tung Tu

MOE Key Laboratory of Pressure Systems and Safety, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China

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First published: 21 June 2023

Abstract

For nuclear power generation as a carbon-neutral energy source, in-vessel retention (IVR) must be implemented to maintain the structural integrity of nuclear reactor pressure vessel (RPV) for more than 72 h under severe accidental conditions. This technology requires accurate prediction of creep deformation and life of RPV material being operated under pressure and extremely high-temperature gradient. The current work develops a simplified deformation-mechanism-based true-stress (DMTS) model for creep behavior/life-prediction of SA508 Gr.3 steel, a typical RPV material, above the phase transformation temperatures (800–1000°C). This model is used to evaluate the time to specific creep strain (t3% and t5%) and rupture (tr), in comparison with popular empirical methods such as Orr–Sherby–Dorn (OSD) and Larson–Miller (LM). The simplified DMTS model achieves an excellent agreement with the experimental observations. The controlling deformation mechanisms are also discussed by metallurgical examinations, which provide the physical premise for the model development and application.

Highlights

  • A simplified deformation-mechanism-based true-stress (DMTS) creep model was proposed.
  • This model predicted the creep-strain time and life of SA508 Gr. 3 at 800–1000°C.
  • The prediction accuracy of simplified DMTS was compared with LM and OSD methods.
  • The dominant creep deformation mechanism was dislocation climb-plus-glide.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest to this work.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The raw/processed data will be made available on request.

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