Validation on Failure & Leak-Rate Correlations for Stress Corrosion Cracks in Steam Generator Tubes (NUREG/CR-6774)

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: December 2001
Date Published: May 2002

Prepared by:
S. Majumdar, S. Bakhtiari
K. Kasza, J. Y. Park

Energy Technology Division
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 South Cass Avenue
Argonne, IL 60439

J. Muscara, NRC Project Manager

Prepared for:
Division of Engineering Technology
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

NRC Job Code Y6041

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Abstract

This report summarizes models for the prediction of failure pressures and leak rates under normal operation and design-basis accident conditions in steam generator tubes with axial and circumferential cracks. These models were first validated through failure and leak rate tests at room temperature and at 282°C on tubes with rectangular, triangular, and trapezoidal notches fabricated by electrodischarge machining. They were then compared with failure and leak rate tests conducted on tubes with laboratory-generated outer-diameter stress corrosion cracks and steam generator tubes with field-induced stress corrosion cracks, which have highly complex morphology. Complex crack profiles are addressed using a model based on the concept of equivalent rectangular cracks. The predictions of the models are in reasonable agreement with test results, the time-dependent initiation and increase of leak rates observed in some tests cannot be predicted by the model.