Ultrasonic testing of austenite welded joints in Дy-300 pipelines

Damage related to intergranular corrosive cracking under stress was observed in austenite pipelines operated at atomic power plants (APPs). In 1986, such flaws were found for the first time at Russian APPs in welded joints of water equalizing pipelines in an PБMK drum separator. In 1997, numerous cracks were discovered in welded joints in downcomer and pressure pipes at APPs where PБMK-1000 and PБMK-1500 reactors were operated; i.e., this phenomenon acquired a mass character.