On-Line Monitoring of Environment-Assisted Cracking in Nuclear Piping Using Array Probe Direct Current Potential Drop
Source abstract
Abstract
A direct current potential drop method utilizing array probes with measurement ends maintaining an equalized potential designated as equi-potential switching array probe direct current potential drop (ESAP-DCPD) technique has been developed earlier at Seoul National University. This paper validates ESAP-DCPD technique by showing consistency among experimental measurements, analytical solution and numerical predictions using finite element analysis (FEA) of electric field changes with crack growth in metals. In order to examine its viability as an on-line monitoring of environment assisted crack growth at the inner surface of piping welds, artificial inner surface cracks were introduced in a full-scale weldment mockup pipe and stainless steel metal mockup pipe. The weldment was joined by low alloy steel and stainless steel pipes. The pipes were monitored by using ESAP-DCPD in laboratory environments. Optimization of electrical wiring configuration has produced results with significantly reduced noise for adequately long period of time. Then optimized experimental results were compared with the FEA prediction results for the mockup to show a good agreement. Also a round-robin measurement has been made at three laboratories. It has been found that the developed ESAP-DCPD can detect circumferential cracks with a depth of 40 % of wall thickness in stainless steel with a good detectability for further growth behaviors. For axial cracks, however, the measurements showed poor detectability. Hence the developed ESAP-DCPD system can be used to monitor large circumferential cracks that existing non-destructive examination techniques often fail to detect until leakage takes place.
Source: openaire · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Non-Destructive Testing Techniques · Ultrasonics and Acoustic Wave Propagation · Hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion behaviors in metals
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (29)
Show source-provided references
1. ASME: Inservice Inspection of Nuclear Power Plant Components. ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code Section XI (1992)
2. EPRI: Materials Reliability Program: Alloy 82/182 Pipe Butt Weld Safety Assessment for US PWR Plant Design. MRP-113NP. EPRI, Palo Alto, CA (2004)
3. EPRI: Materials Reliability Program: Primary System Piping Butt Weld Inspection and Evaluation Guidelines. MRP-139. EPRI, Palo Alto, CA (2005)
4. KINS: Technical Report on the Management Methods of Dissimilar Metal Welds Aging in NPPs. KINS/RR-640 (2009)
5. Rao, K.R.: Companion Guide to the ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code. Criteria and Commentary on Select Aspects of the Boiler & Pressure Vessel and Piping Codes, vol. 3, 2nd edn (2006)10.1115/1.802205 ↗
6. Meyer, R.M., Coble, J., Ramuhalli, P., Bond, L.J.: Advanced Instrumentation, Information, and Control System Technologies: Nondestructive Examination Technologies -FY11 Report. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (2011)10.2172/1042559 ↗
7. Andersson, M., Persson, C., Melin, S.: Experimental and numerical investigation of crack closure measurements with electrical potential drop technique. Int. J. Fatique 28, 1059–1068 (2006)10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2005.11.005 ↗
8. Meriaux, J., Fouvry, S., Kubiak, K.J., Deyber, S.: Characterization of crack nucleation in TA6V under fretting-fatigue loading using the potential drop technique. Int. J. Fatique 32, 1658–1668 (2010)10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2010.03.008 ↗
9. Hofstoetter, P., Keller, H.P.: Application of the potential drop method for inservice monitoring of indications for crack initiation or crack propagation fundamental principles and practical application. In: Transactions, SMiRT 16, Washington DC, pp. 1–8 (2001)
10. Hofstotter, P., Keller, H.P., Trobitz, M., Walkmann, M.: In-service monitoring and fractographic inspection of ultrasonic indications on a feed water suction pipe of the Gundremmingen nuclear power plant. Nucl. Eng. Des. 206, 279–289 (2001)10.1016/S0029-5493(00)00441-6 ↗
11. Oppermann, W., Hofstotter, P., Keller, H.P.: Long-term installations of the DC-potential drop method in four nuclear power plants and the accuracies thereby obtained for monitoring of crack initiation and crack growth. Nucl. Eng. Des. 174, 287–292 (1997)10.1016/S0029-5493(97)00127-1 ↗
12. Oppermann, W., Keller, H.P.: An improved potential drop method for measuring and monitoring defects in metallic structures. Nucl. Eng. Des. 144, 171–175 (1993)10.1016/0029-5493(93)90018-5 ↗
13. Ryu, K.H., Hwang, I.S., Kim, J.H.: Development of wall thinning screening system and its application to a commercial nuclear power plant. Nucl. Eng. Des. 265, 591–598 (2013)10.1016/j.nucengdes.2013.09.021 ↗
14. Andresen, P.L.: IGSCC Crack Propagation Rate Measurement in BWR Environments. Executive summary of a Round Robin study; Project SKI-95118. GE Corporate Research and Development (1998)
15. Sposito, G.: Advances in Potential Drop Techniques for Non-destructive Testing. Imperial College, London (2009)
16. Ryu, K.H.: Development of Piping Wall Thinning Screening Technique Based on Equipotential Switching Driect Current Potential Drop Method. Seoul National University, Seoul (2010)
17. Rangel, J.C.F.: Pipe Wall Damage Morphology Measurement Methodology Development for Flow Assisted Corrosion Evaluation. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (1999)
18. Ryu, K.H., Hwang, I.S., Lee, N.Y., Oh, Y.J., Kim, J.H., Park, J.H., Sohn, C.H.: Screening method for piping wall loss by flow accelerated corrosion. Nucl. Eng. Des. 238, 3263–3268 (2008)10.1016/j.nucengdes.2008.07.006 ↗
19. Ryu, K.H., Lee, T.H., Kim, J.H., Hwang, I.S., Lee, N.Y., Kim, J.H., Park, J.H., Sohn, C.H.: Online monitoring method using equipotential switching direct current potential drop for piping wall loss by flow accelerated corrosion. Nucl. Eng. Des. 240, 468–472 (2010)10.1016/j.nucengdes.2009.11.036 ↗
20. Doremus, L., Nadot, Y., Henaff, G., Mary, C., Pierret, S.: Calibration of the potential drop method for monitoring small crack growth from surface anomalies - Crack front marking technique and finite element simulations. Int. J. Fatigue 70, 178–185 (2015)10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2014.09.003 ↗
21. Gandossi, L., Summers, S.A., Taylor, N.G., Hurst, R.C., Hulm, B.J., Parker, J.D.: The potential drop method for monitoring crack growth in real components subjected to combined fatigue and creep conditions: application of FE techniques for deriving calibration curves. Int. J. Pres. Ves. Pip. 78, 881–891 (2001)10.1016/S0308-0161(01)00103-X ↗
22. Chen, W.H., Chen, J.S., Fang, H.L.: A theoretical procedure for detection of simulated cracks in a pipe by the direct current-potential drop technique. Nucl. Eng. Des. 216, 203–211 (2002)10.1016/S0029-5493(02)00052-3 ↗
23. Aronson, G.H., Ritchie, R.O.: Optimization of the electrical potential technique for crack growth monitoring in compact test pieces using finite element analysis. J. Test. Eval. 7(4), 208–215 (1979)10.1520/JTE11382J ↗
24. Lee, J.H.: The influence of distance between current supply points on potential drop in DCPD. J. Korean Soc. Nondestruct. Test. 29(2), 104–107 (2009)
25. Sato, Y., Atsumi, T., Shoji, T.: Application of induced current potential drop technique for measurements of cracks on internal wall of tube-shaped specimens. NDT&E Int. 40, 497–504 (2007)10.1016/j.ndteint.2007.04.004 ↗
26. Lu, Y.: Potential Drop and Eddy Current Nondestructive Evaluation Problems. Iowa State University, Ames, IA (2012)
27. Lu, Y., Bowler, J.R., Zhang, C., Bowler, N.: Edge effects in four point direct current potential drop measurement. In: AIP Conference, Chicago. American Institute of Physics, pp. 271–278 (2008)10.1063/1.3114215 ↗
28. ASTM: Standard test method for measurement of fatigue crack growth rates. ASTM E647–08. West Conshohocken (PA) (2008)
29. Ho, C.Y., Chu, T.K.: Electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity of nine selected AISI stainless steels, Purdue University Technical Report, CINDAS Report No. 45. American Iron and Steel Institute (1977)