Reactor Vessel Cladding
Reactor Vessel Cladding
Reactor Vessel Cladding
North-Holland, Amsterdam
171
The existence of a layer of tough weld overlay cladding on the interior of a light-water reactor pressure vessel could mitigate
damage caused during certain overcooling transients. The potential benefit of the cladding is that it could keep a short surface
flaw, which would otherwise become long, from growing either by impeding crack initiation or by arresting a running crack.
Two aspects critical to cladding behavior will be reported: irradiation effects on cladding toughness and the response of
mechanically loaded, flawed structures in the presence of cladding.
A two-phase irradiation experiment is being conducted. In the first phase, Charpy impact and tensile specimens from a
single wire, submerged-arc stainless steel weld overlay were irradiated to 2 10 23 neutrons/m2 ( > 1 MeV) at 288C. Typical,
good quality pressure vessel cladding exhibited very little irradiation-induced degradation. However, ductile-to-brittle
transition behavior, caused by temperature-dependent failure of the residual 8-ferrite, was observed. In contrast, specimens
from a highly diluted, poor quality weldment were markedly embritfled. In the second phase of irradiations, now in progress, a
commercially produced three-wire series arc weldment will be evaluated under identical irradiation and testing conditions as
the first series. In addition, 0.5T compact specimens of both weldments and higher fluences will be examined.
A two-phase program is also being conducted utilizing relatively large bend specimens that have been clad and flawed on
the tension surface. The testing rationale is that if a surface flaw is pinned by the cladding and cannot grow longer, it will also
not grow beyond a certain depth, thereby arresting the entire flaw in a stress field in which it would otherwise propagate
through the specimen. The results of phase one showed that single wire cladding with low-to-moderate toughness appeared to
have a limited ability to mitigate crack propagation. For the second phase, three-wire cladding has been deposited on a base
plate with a very high ductile-to-brittle transition temperature allowing testing to ascertain the crack inhibiting capability of
tough upper shelf cladding.
1. Introduction
It has been proposed that the existence of a layer of
tough weld overlay cladding on the interior of a lightwater reactor (LWR) pressure vessel could mitigate
damage caused during certain overcooling transients.
The potential benefit of the cladding is that it could
keep a short surface flaw, which would otherwise become long, from growing either by impeding crack
initiation or by arresting a running crack. If this can
indeed be proven, the implications for existing LWRs,
particularly those with substantial reactor pressure vessel (RPV) embrittlement, would be significant. It would
* Research sponsored by the Office of Nuclear Regulatory
Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, under Interagency Agreements DOE 40-551-75 and 40-552-75 with
the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC05840R21400 with Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
172
2. T e s t m a t e r i a l s - P h a s e o n e
Table 1
Chemical composition of overlay weldments
Element
C
Cr
Ni
Mo
Mn
Si
Co
Cu
V
A1
Ti
P
S
Content ~ (wt%)
First
layer
Second
layer
Third
layer
0.145
13.46
6.90
0.47
1.47
0.56
0.066
0.14
0.02
0.014
< 0.005
0.018
0.01
0.081
18.52
8.81
0.27
1.47
0.70
0.092
0.10
0.04
0.010
< 0.005
0.021
0.01
0.065
20.01
9.36
0.21
1.49
0.76
0.100
0.09
0.04
0.16
0.006
0.022
0.01
a Balance Fe, with Nb, < 0.01; Ta, < 0.01; As, < 0.03: and
B, < 0.001 for all layers.
Fig. 1. The microstructure of the third layer of type 308 stainless steel weld overlay is typical of reactor pressure vessel cladding with
8-ferrite in an austenite matrix.
173
Fig. 2. The second layer of the overlay (type 308 stainless steel) includes patches of martensite (light gray) in addition to the 8-ferrite
in an austenite matrix.
174
401~
500x
Fig. 3. The high base metal dilution of the first (lowest) layer of cladding, type 309 stainless steel, resulted in a three-phase
microstructure of austenite (lightest region), martensite (light gray), and 8-ferrite decorated with additional carbides (black).
3. Effects of irradiation
3.1. Experimental d e t a i l s - Phase one
TYPE 308
SPECIMEN - ~
~ _
TYPE 309
SPECIMEN
TYPE ~
WELD METAL
~'//////////////////////~//////~.~--
A533 Gr. B CL 1
BASE PLATE
WELDING DIRECTION
175
Table 2
Tensile properties of stainless steel cladding before and after irradiation at 288 +_14 C
Specimen
Material
type a
Fluence,
> 1 MeV
(neutrons/m 2 )
Test
temperature
( C)
Strength (MPa)
Yield
Ultimate
Total
elongation b
(%)
Reduction
of area
(%)
CPL-80
CPL-83
CPC-72
CPC-73
CPL-81
CPL-85
CPC-70
CPC-75
CPL-86
CPL-89
CPC-77
CPC-78
CPL-82
CPL-87
CPC-71
CPC-76
CPL-90
CPL-91
CPC-79
CPC-80
CPL-84
CPL-88
CPC-74
CPC-81
309
309
308
308
309
309
308
308
309
309
308
308
309
309
308
308
309
309
308
308
309
309
308
308
0
0
0
0
2.0 )< 1023
2.0
2.1
2.1
0
0
0
0
2.0
2.0
2.1
2.1
0
0
0
0
2.0
2.0
2.1
2.1
27
27
27
27
29
29
29
29
149
149
149
149
149
149
149
149
288
288
288
288
288
288
288
288
299
273
268
276
388
364
289
300
213
236
221
213
297
345
290
262
195
207
205
205
277
290
198
232
28.4
49.5
40.0
42.4
39.4
45.4
51.5
60.1
31.9
30.4
31.3
32.4
57.2
48.6
56.3
53.8
31.7
32.4
28.5
27.6
52.9
56.3
51.9
49.5
30.6
55.5
55.0
58.0
48.0
58.0
62.3
67.1
55.5
63.4
44.0
52.0
57.9
60.4
59.3
58.1
51.5
52.2
51.4
53.3
56.6
59.3
55.0
59.8
593
586
589
568
606
624
605
589
448
450
445
444
508
526
501
485
429
423
393
402
475
501
422
427
a Type 309 consists primarily of the first metal pass, type 308 primarily the third (last pass).
b Gage length/diameter = 7.
176
l o g
90
8B
78
'
'
'
'
'
'
'
- - - - - - o - - - UNIRRRDIRTEn
-- - o-
IRRRDIRTED
I.d
Z
'
_o_ .
,48
3e2o
"o.~/~'/
1o
I~
o
,
-200
- 18fl
fl
1fib
2fl8
TEMPERRTURE (C)
less than 70 and 80% type 308 weld metal for the
unirradiated and irradiated data sets. respectively (figs.
6 and 7), because these produced the most distinct
difference between the data sets. Once these populations within the type 309 data were established, the
effect of irradiation was seen to be quite appreciable
(fig. 8). Both populations experienced large drops in
upper-shelf energy of up to 50% and shifts in transition
temperature of up to 100C. The extensive toughness
degradation seen in the type 309 material as compared
with very little in the type 308 is probably due to the
higher fraction of ferritic phases in the type 309 resulting from the excessive base metal dilution and their
intrinsically higher radiation sensitivity.
To investigate the cause of the ductile-to-brittle transition behavior, a study of the fracture path within both
the types 308 and 309 weld metal was undertaken.
Unirradiated Charpy specimens were metallographically
prepared such that the central plane of the specimen
perpendicular to the fracture face was visible, providing
an "edge-on" view of the fracture profile. Two specimens are examined here, one tested at - 3 0 C low in
the transition, and another tested at 50C near the
upper knee of the transition. Both specimens contain
both types 309 and 308 layers of cladding.
Low in the transition, the fracture path in the type
309 (fig. 9) follows the ferrite (dark phase) in the
structure. Note that the martensite and austenite are not
differentiated by the etching technique used here. As
the fracture progresses into the type 308 (fig. 10), the
fracture path remains within the 6-ferrite islands.
Clearly, in both materials the fracture is dominated by
the ferritic phases at the lower temperature.
However, examining the fracture path in the type
309 stainless tested near the knee of the upper shelf (fig.
11) shows that preferential fracture of the ferrite does
not occur at this high temperature. Similarly, the fracture profile within the type 308 stainless steel (fig. 12)
shows clear indications of a dimple rupture failure
mode with no preferential 8-ferrite failure.
Therefore, based on the fractographic evidence, it is
assumed that for both the types 308 and 309 stainless
steel cladding at upper-shelf temperatures the ferrite is
at least as tough as the austenite such that the fracture
proceeds primarily through the matrix and the ferrite
then falls only coincidentally. The mechanism responsible for the typically ferritic type ductile-to-brittle transition observed in our stainless steel cladding has been
identified as the low temperature failure of ~-ferrite
regions in both types 309 and 308 cladding. This behavior may also explain the rate sensitivity observed by
Hawthorne and Watson [10] in their impact testing of
177
w
I:1
90 B
80
--
70
--
--
6O
>-
~= 5o
LU
Z
ku
_-
4O
H "
30
l
20
H.
"
HIGH-ENERGY
POPULATION
--
10
H~. Hj
I
-150
- 1O0
-50
50
100
150
200
250
300
T E M P E R A T U R E (C)
Fig. 6. Charpy impact energy of the unirradiated nominally type 309 stainless steel cladding divided into low-and high-energy
populations based on the fraction of type 308 weld metal in the specimen ligament.
80
70
H ........
HIGH--ENERGY
POPULATION
L. . . .
LOW-ENERGY
POPULATION
60
H
..H
.....
'"'''"
."
50
>(3
n,- 40
t.u
L~
Z
LLI
3O
L /L
20
>
H" L j
10--
o
--200
--150
-- 100
-- 50
50
1O0
150
200
250
300
TEMPERATURE (C)
Fig. 7. Charpy impact energy of the irradiated nominally type 309 stainless steel cladding divided into low- and high-energy
populations based on the fraction of type 308 weld metal in the specimen ligament.
178
1oo
,,
I"
'I
LOW-ENERGY HIGH--ENERGY
POPULATION
POPULATION
90
UNIRRADIATED
............
80
--
IRRADIATED/"*''~'=
--
70 --
--
/
40 ~
..../ ............
." /
/.'/
10
--
0
-200
~,.
..--
I.
-150
,. I
-100
1
-50
...m
I /
~o -
0
50
100
TEMPERATURE (C)
l
150
.I
200
I
250
300
Fig. 8. Effect of irradiation on the Charpy impact energy of high- and low-energy populations of the specimens of nominally type 309
cladding.
IOOOX
Fig. 9. The low temperature fracture path in type 309 cladding shown following patches of ferrite.
zO
pm
179
IOOOX
Fig. 10. The low temperature fracture path of type 308 cladding shown following 8-ferrite islands.
20 pm
IO00X
Fig. 11. The profile of the fracture path of type 309 stainless steel shows that the fracture does not preferentially follow the ferrite
(gray patches), as opposed to the matrix of the austenite at higher temperatures.
180
Ii
20
~m _j
%..~.
I.
IO00X
Fig. 12. The profile of the fracture path of type 308 stainless steel shows that the fracture does not preferentially follow the 8-ferrite
(gray patches) at higher temperature.
stainless steel weldments since the ferritic phases controlling the fracture are inherently rate, as well as temperature, sensitive. If the cladding on the interior of a
reactor pressure vessel is to be considered structural in
nature, then the potential for its rate sensitivity should
also be considered.
3.4. Conclusions from Phase one and plans for Phase two
similar. Preliminary results have shown that the unirradiated properties of the three-wire series arc clad-.
ding and the good quality type 308 cladding from the
first series exhibit very similar unirradiated fracture
behavior.
In addition, two sets of compact specimens from the
material used in phase one have been included. The
specimens were fabricated such that the tip of the
precrack is in the type 308 stainless for one set and in
the type 309 for the other. These specimens will be used
to confirm the behavioral trends shown by the impact
specimens in phase one.
181
] 82
I
"
120 - -
110 ~
100 ~
2b = 51 cm---~
90 ~
--
>
~
Q.
2b = 7.6 c m
6ow
!50
40 - -
30
///
~I
o
0
0.1
~.~
~
~k
X
2b=
2b
/ =5"1
5"lcm-J
/cm ~O/ ~KAT0:0
KI
10
AT
~/2
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
a/w
Fig. 13. KI variations with crack depth for a part-through surface crack of constant surface length in a 51-mm-thick plate under pure
bending.
represent composite fracture data of the first and second layers of cladding. They are plotted for comparison
with the Charpy data for the base plate, A 533 grade B
class 1, in both the LT and LS orientations, repreSTRESS
DISTRIBUTION
(MPa)
K I = 57 MPa'v'-m
81
413.7
-413.7
Fig. 14. Predicted stress intensity for semiellipticalflaws in 51-mm-thick unclad plate under pure bending.
183
J-
76 mm
I-
,///////////////////A
ST R ESS
DISTRIBUTION
(MPa)
_1
r I
/j
222IV, I/ / / ,/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Z
2
51 mm
t.
K t A T 0 = 7r/2
413.7
-413.7
K AT 0 = 0 ~ J
(MPa'
Fig. 15. Predicted stress intensity for 76-mm-long flaws in 51-mm-thick clad plate under pure bending.
P/2
MBASE
ETAL
STAINLESS
CLADDING
FL
DIMENSIONS IN CENTIMETERS
P/2
184
200
'
'
'
'
'
125
7s
'
'
'
'
'
"O--
o'~'
.~
)'/
/
)
so
25
31~1~/'_
-200
'
...... ~ .....
(LOW ENERGY
POPULATION)
.~'~
V----IF CLADDING
(HIGH ENERGY
POPULATION)
CLADDING
150
100
'
0 ....... 0 B A S E P L A T E (LS)
O----C] B A S E P L A T E (LT)
175
'
-100
TEST T MPERATURE
P L A T E NOT
---BASE
100
TEMPERATURE
200
300
(C)
Fig. 17. The impact toughness of the cladding slightly exceeds that of the base plate at the test temperature of the clad plates.
Table 3
Fracture toughness of materials used in the clad plate tests
Material
Specimen
No
Tempera- Orienta- K j a
ture
tion
(Mpafm)
(C)
LT
LT
308/309 SS
weld metal
Average
a
d
a
b
c
a
CP218 ~
CP219
c
- 40
40
--
56.8
80.4
68.6
191.0
193.0
192.0
Table 4
Tensile properties " of materials used in the clad-plate tests
Material
Tempera- Strength
ture
(MPa)
(C)
Ductility
(%)
A-533 grade B
class1
-40
61.7
308/309 SS
weld metal
47.0
-40
185
JACKBOLTS
~ ~CREMOSSHEAD
r,q
REACTION
P'--Itl ,l
REACTION ANCHOR
REACTION
BEARING-.--"
L~--SHIELD
JO
E=~
L(3 ~D
CE .L
INsTRoN 200-kip
TESTING MACHINE
I t.AsE
i'
L,J
Other features incorporated with the modification included a liquid-nitrogen cooling system for the test
specimen, a system for hydrogen charging of the EB
weld to induce crack propagation under load, and a
plastic shield to protect operating personnel from injury
caused by possible missiles and splashing liquid nitrogen or sulfuric acid.
The test procedure developed for the specimens included the following steps: (1) instrumentation of spedmen; (2) insertion and alignment of specimen in the text
fixture; (3) attachment of sensors to recorders and data
acquisition systems; (4) cooling of the specimen to the
preselected test temperatured; (5) loading of the speci-
men to a target load, typically corresponding to incipient yielding at the surfaces of the plate; (6) maintenance
of the load with the testing machine in displacement
control; (7) hydrogen charging of the EB-weld flaw;
and (8) continuous a n d / o r periodic monitoring of
specimen load, strain, flaw crack-opening displacement
(COD), and temperature until either failure of the specimen or pop-in and arrest of the flaw occurred. If pop-in
and arrest occurred, the specimen was removed from
the machine, heat-tinted, and subsequently broken
frangibly to permit a view of the arrested flaw profile.
Additional details on test materials, specimens and
procedures can be obtained elsewhere [2].
186
Efforts were made to use the test procedures described above; however, departures occurred during the
experiments. A brief description of each test is given
below with the results.
One unclad plate, CP-1A, was tested. This test provided a demonstration of the hypothesis that at the
loading conditions chosen, an unclad specimen should
fail. The test procedure was carried out as planned, with
the fully instrumented specimen reaching and sustaining
a load of 622.8 kN at - 4 0 C, corresponding to incipient yielding of the surface fibers. Hydrogen charging
was initiated, and the specimen fractured frangibly into
two halves. The instrumentation of the plate, which is
typical for all other tests as well, is shown in fig. 19.
Foil-type strain gages, weldable COD gages, and tackwelded thermocouples were included. On examination
of the fracture surface, the crack appeared to have
initiated in the brittle EB weld and rapidly propagated
through the entire plate.
Four plates with 308/309 cladding (CP-3, CP-5,
CP-8, and CP-9) were tested. These tests were intended
to demonstrate and define the contribution that the
Fig. 19. Unclad plate CP-1A shown after all instrumentation has been applied.
187
Fig. 20. Detail of pop-in area of types 309/308 stainless steel clad plate CP-3. Note that crack ran through the EB weld (dark smooth
area) into the base metal (dark rough area) in the depth direction but not along the surface where it was pinned by cladding.
run through both the ferritic base metal and the remaining austenitic cladding.
Specimen CP-5 was cooled to - 4 0 C and loaded to
incipient yielding (at the base-plate/weld-metal interface) at 667.2 kN, a n d hydrogen charging was begun.
The specimen failed frangibly in about 3 h. The fracture
surface exhibited flat fracture, which appears to have
originated in the EB weld and run throughout the plate.
Specimen CP-8 was cooled to - 4 0 C and, similar to
CP-3, pop-in occurred during loading at 291 kN. The
specimen was unloaded, heat-tinted, and loaded monotonically at - 7 3 C until failure occurred at 380 kN.
The cladding was not sawed to facilitate fracture in this
specimen. The flaw had propagated into the base metal
during the test but remained pinned at the
cladding/EB-weld interface.
To define the upper limit of arrest, a load of 418 kN
was chosen as the test load for specimen CP-9, intermediate between specimens CP-5 and CP-8. Posttest
measurements of the flaw geometry revealed it to be
considerably different from that assumed in the pretest
calculations so that the actual stress intensity factor at
arrest was considerably lower than expected. Specimen
188
Table 5
Tabulation of calculated stress-intensity factor data
Specimen
No.
Flaw ~ Flaw
type
depth
a
(cm)
Flaw
halflength
b
(cm)
Plate
Load b Stress ~ Straind Tempera- Stress intensity factor, K~(O)
depth
(kN)
(MPa) micro- ture 'j
(MPafm-)
0 = ~r/2
strain ("C)
Method 0 = 0 0=~r/6 0=~r/4 0=~r/3 0=~r/2
plane w
(cm)
CP-1A I
1.43
3.35
5.40
622.8
481.0
2050
-40
M
RN
72.8 75.9
67.8 67.5
78.0
67.0
78.8
65.8
6g.0
66.4
CP-3
1.57
4.76
4.96
327.8
246.6
1413
- 40
M
RN
40.5 42.8
36.9 36.9
44.5
36.7
45.7
36.4
34.2
35.6
CP-3
2.18
4.76
4.96
327.8
246.6
1413
- 40
M
RN
O
37.5 42.1
30.2 30.7
33.7 36.8
45.5
31.4
39.1
48.3
32.9
42.3
47.6
45.3
34.9
CP-5
1.51
2.12
4.81
667.2
478.9
4473
- 40
M
RN
O
51.5 55.9
49.2 50.5
51.1 40.4
59.6
52.5
51.0
63.6
56.1
63.0
77.8
73.3
32.2
CP-7
1.15
3.33
4.86
413.7
318.2
1353
-- 62
M
RN
46.6 48.2
43.8 43.6
49.5
43.2
50.0
42.3
37.3
37.5
CP-8
1.14
3.26
4.89
291.4
233.1
1360
- 40
33.9 35.1
36.0
36.4
27.5
CP-8
1.47
3.01
4.89
291.4
233.1
1360
40
M
O
33.7 34.0
30.7 31.6
35.3
32.4
36.1
33.7
34.9
21.3
CP-8
IR
1.47
3.01
4.89
380.3
304.2
1640
73
44.0 44.3
46.1
47.2
45.5
CP-9
1.95
5.03
4.01
418.1
159.7
1690
- 40
15.9
19.3
22.3
25.0
26.0
CP-9 f A
3.06
5.03
5.12
418.1
359.2
1690
-40
36.3 55.3
62.7
63.0
103.7
CP-9
1.95
5.03
4.01
418.1
159.7
1690
- 40
30.7 32.4
33.7
36.6
30.3
a
b
c
d
c
f
189
6O
I1-11
z
n 3O
& ~ &
~A
&
,/}
UJ
nIO~
.:_20
v
MERKLE M E T H O D
RAJU-NEWMAN METHOD
II ORVIRT
10
10
20
30
40
50
50
70
80
90
100
Fig. 21. Stress intensity for arrested flaw in specimen CP-3 as function of polar angle as calculated by Merkle, Raju-Newman, and
ORVIRT methods.
The simplified methods of analysis employed assumed a plane surface at the bottom of the groove for
the calculation of the stress intensity factor because the
calculations were based on the intersection of a flaw
with a free surface; that is, the effect of the groove in
the cladding was ignored. In addition, the flaw was
assumed to have a semielliptical shape. On the other
hand, the ORVIRT calculations used the posttest-determined shape of the groove and flaw to calculate the
stress intensity factor. The resulting improved stress-intensity factor calculation agreed reasonably well with
the simpler methods for specimens CP-3, CP-5, and
CP-8 which contained a shallow groove except for the
zone where the polar angle approached 90 , near the
intersection of the flaw with the bottom of the groove in
the cladding. Here the stress intensity factors were
elevated, presumably due to the stress concentration
effects of the 6.25-mm-wide groove. For specimen CP-9,
which contained the deep groove and for which the
simplified methods were inadequate, only the ORVIRT
calculation appeared useful.
To see what effect the cladding had on the crack-arrest properties of the composite clad-plate specimens, it
is useful to compare the maximum values of stress
intensity factor calculated for the plate specimens at the
arrest of the pop-ins with values for the base metal. For
this purpose it was judged most reasonable to use the
peak values of Kt taken from the ORVIRT calculations
which are listed in table 6. This is because the peak
values reflect the stress concentration effects of the
Table 6
Maximum near-surface stress intensity factor values calculated
by ORVIRT for plates with 308/309 cladding
Plate
Condition
Angle
(deg)
K1
(MPa~fm)
CP-3
CP-5
CP-8
CP-9
Arrest
Initiation
Arrest
Arrest
85
90
80-85
89
67
101
50
57
190
groove, which appear to be significant near the cladding-base metal interface although not elsewhere. The
reason for using the peak values rather than those at
0 = ~r/2 was that the steeply falling segments of the
ORVIRT curves between the peaks and 0 = ~r/2 are not
considered accurate, because of finite-element distortion
effects which appear to have developed very near the
ends of the flaws. The results for the crack arrest
specimens and the clad-plate specimens shown in fig. 22
indicate that two of the values of arrest toughness
calculated for the clad-plate experiments (CP-8 and -9)
coincide closely with those obtained using crack-arrest
specimens; the third (CP-3), however, is slightly higher.
The stress intensity factor for clad-plate specimen CP-5,
which did not arrest, was calculated for the flaw geometry and loading conditions at initiation and, because of
the load reached, was well in excess of the values
obtained with the crack arrest specimens. Overall the
comparisons made between the crack-arrest specimens
and the clad-plate experiments show that there may be
limited ability of the moderate toughness cladding ex200
180
160
amined to enhance structural resistance to crack extension. However, the present data are not entirely conclusive because only a modest increase, if any, in the
calculated arrest toughness of the clad-plate specimens
beyond the base material scatter band was observed.
To provide a more definitive answer regarding if and
indeed how much structural enhancement the cladding
could yield in this geometry would require additional
testing. Initial loading conditions need to be reached
that would produce a level of stress intensity factor in
the dynamically moving flaw in between those obtained
in CP-3, -8, and -9 (which arrested more or less within
the scatter band for the base plate), and that obtained
in CP-5 (which did not arrest at all). However, such
tests were not performed in this series of experiments. It
was not possible to reach a level of load that was high
enough to produce the required initial conditions as a
result of premature pop-ins during loading, such as
occurred in CP-3 and CP-8. This was caused by not
removing all the stainless steel weld metal prior to EB
welding. Mixing of the stainless steel with the low alloy
PLATE HSST 07
V A L I D 1TCA SPECIMEN
LT ORIENTATION
NDT = - 1 8 o c (0OF)
T/68J = 20oc (68 F )
RTND T = _ 1 3 o c (8OF)
I N V A L I D 1TCA SPECIMEN
BEAM SPECIMEN
F LAW A R R EST E D
BEAM SPECIMEN
FLAW DID NOT ARREST
140
or 120
I.>F--
100
Z
IdJ
I--7"
80
03
03
t.~
eel---
60
ce-5~
CP-3
c _9o
CP-8 , ~
40
20
0
-50
CLAD BEAM
TEST TEMPERATURE ,RELATIVE TO RTND T OF BASE METAL
I
-40
It
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
T - RTND T (oc)
30
40
J
50
60
70
Fig. 22. Comparing the crack-arrest values calculated for clad-plate specimens that arrested with those obtained from crack-arrest
specimens indicates only a possibility that the cladding enhanced the toughness of the structure.
191
By comparing the behavior of types 308/309 stainless steel clad plates CP-3, CP-5, CP-8, and CP-9 with
that of the unclad plate and the base plate crack-arrest
data, it appears that moderately low-toughness stainless
steel cladding has a limited capacity to arrest a running
flaw on the surface and keep a short flaw from becoming long. One specimen arrested at a calculated stress
intensity factor in excess of the observed scatter band
for crack arrest data within the base plate; moreover,
none of the flaws that arrested should have done so in
the existing stress field unless there had been some
degree of pinning of the ends of the flaw by a tough
surface layer. It is important to stress, however, than
any structural toughness enhancement by the cladding
in this study was limited. The fact that plate CP-5
fractured completely with no indication of cladding-induced arrest is a clear demonstration of the moderately
tough cladding's limitation.
4. 7. Plans for clad plate experiments - Phase two
P/2
P/2
P/2
DIMENSIONS IN
CENTIMETERS
Fig. 23. Specimen dimensions and load locations of optimized specimen to be used in phase two of clad plate investigations.
192
200
'
175
'
----O---r'l
'
3-WIRE
'
'
'
SERIES-ARC
A 533 GRADE
'
'
'
'
'
'
CLADDING
B BASEPLATE
150
125
O
O J
[:I
100
z
w
75
O/
50
25
0
-
i
100
J
0
BASE PLATE
NDT
i
i
~
100
TEMPERATURE
'
'
I
200
.
300
(C)
Fig. 24. A clad plate test temperature can be selected for phase two which will yield a brittle base plate and an arbitrarily tough
cladding.
5. Summary
In the two-pronged effort on the potential effects of
cladding relating to the integrity of an RPV during an
over cooling transient, encouraging results were produced. Good quality weld overlay cladding generally
maintained its inherent toughness following irradiation
exposure and cladding of even only moderate toughness
appeared to slightly enhance the integrity of a structural
member. Additional irradiation and structural data on a
commercial weld overlay being generated in phase two
of these experiments will add greatly to the existing
understanding of cladding effects. On the cautionary
side, it is clear that poor quality cladding can exhibit
marked radiation induced embrittlement. Moreover,
there are clearly loading conditions which negate the
limited structural benefit weld overlay can add to a
structure.
Acknowledgments
The author gratefully acknowledges G.C. Robinson,
R.G. Berggren, and R.K. Nanstad for assistance in
designing and executing the experiments; W.J. Stelzman, G.M. Goodwin, J.W. Hendrix, and J.D. Hudson
for development of welding and heat-treating procedures and production of the test materials; R.J. Gray
and C.P. Haltom for metallographic studies; J.G.
Merkle, R.H. Bryan and B.R. Bass for fracture-mechanics analysis; P.P. Holz for electron beam welding;
W.F. Jackson and R. Smith for instrumentation; R.L.
Swain and T.D. Owings for experimental assistance;
and D,L. Northern for revising and preparing the
manuscript. Lastly, the author wishes to acknowledge
M. Vagins and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the technical and financial backing which made
this work possible.
References
[1] W.R. Corwin, R.G. Berggren, and R.K. Nanstad, Charpy
toughness and tensile properties of a neutron-irradiated
stainless steel submerged arc weld cladding overlay,
NUREG/CR-3927, ORNL/TM-9309, Martin Marietta
Energy Systems, Inc., Oak Ridge National Laboratory
(September 1984).
[2] W.R. Corwin et al., Effect of stainless steel weld overlay
cladding on the structural integrity of flawed steel plates
in bending, Series 1, NUREG/CR-4015, ORNL/TM-
193