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Conference Article: Fracture mechanical characteristic values (J-integral) with transference to components (tubes) by an analytical method

Ullrich, G.; Alder, H.P. (Paul Scherrer Inst. (PSI), Wuerenlingen (Switzerland)); Huthmann, H.; Grueter, L. (Internationale Atomreaktorbau GmbH (INTERATOM), Bergisch Gladbach (Germany, F.R.))

Abstract

One characteristic value that describe the onset of stable crack growth is the J-integral, a method developed independently by Rice and Cherepanov. The J-integral should be independent of the geometry. Nevertheless, an experimental approach to obtain these values for different specimen types were performed by the application of the potential drop technique. This method is useful for plastic materials and elevated temperatures. A common discussed problem is the application of the J-integral values received from small specimens to components. In this contribution a comparison of results from experiments on tubes with optical detection and finite element calculations with those obtained from a simple analytical method is performed. It is shown that an excellent agreement is obtained. From that point of view the analytical method delivers a simple tool to estimate J-integral values from simple load versus load point displacement diagrams of small specimens and components which can be produced by a simple test machine.

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key words: Gas Cooled Reactor, Nuclear Technology
Reference:
High temperature metallic materials for gas-cooled reactors. Proceedings of a specialists meeting held in Cracow, 20-23 June 1988
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria). International Working Group on Gas-Cooled Reactors
IWGGCR--18, pp:144-151