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At least 829 records · Page 46

History of Resistance Welding Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Cladding and other High Temperature Materials at Center for Advanced Energy Studies

Research proposal 08-1079, 'A Comparative Study of Welded ODS Cladding Materials for AFCI/GNEP,' was funded in 2008 under an Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) Research and Development Funding Opportunity, number DE-PS07-08ID14906. Th proposal sought to conduct research on joining oxide dispersion strengthen (ODS) tubing material to a solid end plug. This document summarizes the scientific and technical progress achieved during the project, which ran from 2008 to 2011.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Review of NDE Methods for Detection and Monitoring of Atmospheric SCC in Welded Canisters for the Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel

Dry cask storage systems (DCSSs) for used nuclear fuel (UNF) were originally envisioned for storage periods of short duration (~ a few decades). However, uncertainty challenges the opening of a permanent repository for UNF implying that UNF will need to remain in dry storage for much longer durations than originally envisioned (possibly for centuries). Thus, aging degradation of DCSSs becomes an issue that may not have been sufficiently considered in the design phase and that can challenge the efficacy of very long-term storage of UNF. A particular aging degradation concern is atmospheric stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of DCSSs located in marine environments. In this report, several nondestructive (NDE) methods are evaluated with respect to their potential for effective monitoring of atmospheric SCC in welded canisters of DCSSs. Several of the methods are selected for evaluation based on their usage for in-service inspection applications in the nuclear power industry. The technologies considered include bulk ultrasonic techniques, acoustic emission, visual techniques, eddy current, and guided ultrasonic waves.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Uncertainty quantification methodologies development for stress corrosion cracking of canister welds

This letter report presents a probabilistic performance assessment model to evaluate the probability of canister failure (through-wall penetration) by SCC. The model first assesses whether environmental conditions for SCC – the presence of an aqueous film – are present at canister weld locations (where tensile stresses are likely to occur) on the canister surface. Geometry-specific storage system thermal models and weather data sets representative of U.S. spent nuclear fuel (SNF) storage sites are implemented to evaluate location-specific canister surface temperature and relative humidity (RH). As the canister cools and aqueous conditions become possible, the occurrence of corrosion is evaluated. Corrosion is modeled as a two-step process: first, pitting is initiated, and the extent and depth of pitting is a function of the chloride surface load and the environmental conditions (temperature and RH). Second, as corrosion penetration increases, the pit eventually transitions to a SCC crack, with crack initiation becoming more likely with increasing pit depth. Once pits convert to cracks, a crack growth model is implemented. The SCC growth model includes rate dependencies on both temperature and crack tip stress intensity factor, and crack growth only occurs in time steps when aqueous conditions are predicted. The model suggests that SCC is likely to occur over potential SNF interim storage intervals; however, this result is based on many modeling assumptions. Sensitivity analyses provide information on the model assumptions and parameter values that have the greatest impact on predicted storage canister performance, and provide guidance for further research to reduce uncertainties.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Weld Development for Aluminum Fission Chamber

The Sigma welding team was approached to help fabricate a small fission chamber (roughly ½ inch dia. x ½ inch tall cylinder). These chambers are used as radiation sensors that contain small traces of radionuclides (Cf 252, U 235, and U 238) that serve to ionize gas atoms in addition to external radiation. When a voltage is applied within the chamber, the resulting ion flow can be calibrated and monitored. Aluminum has the advantage of not forming radioactive compounds when exposed to high external radiation (except from minor Na alloy content). Since aluminum has not been used before in this application, this presented an unexplored challenge.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Laser confocal microscope for analysis of 3013 inner container closure weld region

As part of the protocol to investigate the corrosion in the inner container closure weld region (ICCWR) a laser confocal microscope (LCM) was used to perform close visual examination of the surface and measurements of corrosion features on the surface. However, initial analysis of selected destructively evaluated (DE) containers using the LCM revealed several challenges for acquiring, processing and interpreting the data. These challenges include topography of the ICCWR sample, surface features, and the amount of surface area for collecting data at high magnification conditions. In FY17, the LCM parameters were investigated to identify the appropriate parameter values for data acquisition and identification of regions of interest. Using these parameter values, selected DE containers were analyzed to determine the extent of the ICCWR to be examined.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Quarterly Management Document – FY17, 3rd Quarter, Physics-based Creep Simulations of Thick Section Welds in High Temperature and Pressure Applications

Progress on modeling the the creep of thick sections welds in Alloy 740H is reported. Climb of dislocations during creep has been added to the model. Creep testing is continuing and stress drop testing has been initiated to determine the threshold stress of this particle-strengthened alloy. Work has also begun on generating synthetic microstructures, representative of experimental microstructures, from data collected with EBSD. This will enable incorporation of experimental microstructures into the modeling and simulation effort.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Quarterly Management Document – FY18, 1st Quarter, Physics-based Creep Simulations of Thick Section Welds in High Temperature and Pressure Applications

During the 1st quarter of FY18 modeling and simulation of the creep of thick section welds continued although some workscope from FY17 still needs to be completed. Four stress drop tests to determine the threshold stress for creep in Alloy 740H were carried out. One has finished and post-test analysis shows a threshold creep stress of about 67 MPa which is lower than that found in a previous program for Alloy 617 at the same temperature. Alloy 617 is not as creep resistant as Alloy 740H and the reason for the lower than expected threshold stress for Alloy 740H is being investigated further. Also analysis of the gamma prime particle size in an aging study closely follows the aging characteristics of gamma prime in Alloy 617. Further analysis of other aged materials will be carried out during the 2nd quarter of FY18 to confirm that the aging characteristic of Alloy 740H are the same as that for Alloy 617.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Quarterly Management Document – FY19, 3rd Quarter, Physics-based Creep Simulations of Thick Section Welds in High Temperature and Pressure Applications

During the 3rd quarter of FY19, a strategy was developed to incorporate creep damage arising from diffusional processes into a computational model describing creep behavior of thick section welds in Alloy 740H. This approach will be followed in the 4th quarter modify the existing creep model to include diffusional damage processes in its predictions of creep behavior and especially the transition to tertiary creep behavior which will allow the prediction of creep rupture time.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Quarterly Management Document – FY19, 4th Quarter, Physics-based Creep Simulations of Thick Section Welds in High Temperature and Pressure Applications

During the 4th quarter of FY19, diffusional creep effects, based on the local stress tensor, was incorporated into the modeling and simulation efforts on thick section welds of Alloy 740H. The model is now complete and addresses both dislocation-based creep as well as diffusional creep mechanisms. Preliminary result indicate the model is now capable of predicting a transition from secondary creep to tertiary creep. Calibration of the model using experimental creep data remains to be performed and will be done in the first quarter of FY20.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Ultrasonic Welding of Dissimilar Plastics

The ultrasonic welding of dissimilar plastics is considered. This process depends on the diffusion of molecules to the surface of polymers at temperatures corresponding to the viscoplastic state. The weldability of a pair of dissimilar plastics depends on the compatibility of their acoustic properties, assessed in terms of the density and viscosity of the melts.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Wonder Weld

Engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory are using the process shown here to create a super-strong weld for the upgrade of a key component of the Lab's experimental nuclear fusion reactor.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

FY20, 3rd Quarter, Multi-pass Hybrid Laser Arc Welding of Alloy 740H

Although progress has been slowed by telecommuting restrictions at INL and PSU, progress has been made by PSU on modeling and simulation of deep penetration laser welding. Additionally, both INL and PSU has received critical equipment, in the form of high-powered laser wobble heads, needed to verify the modeling and simulation results. The equipment was installed at INL and preliminary tests, based on a test matrix that was developed in this 3rd quarter, will be made early in the 4th quarter. Similarly, the PSU laser wobble head is expected to be installed early in the 4th quarter and preliminary experiments are expected to commence shortly thereafter. Completion dates on a few milestones have been impacted and new dates proposed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Validating a Model for Welding Induced Residual Stress Using High-Energy X-ray Diffraction

Integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) provides a pathway to advance performance in structures through the use of physically-based models to better understand how manufacturing processes influence product performance. As one particular challenge, consider that residual stresses induced in fabrication are pervasive and directly impact the life of structures. For ICME to be an effective strategy, it is essential that predictive capability be developed in conjunction with critical experiments. In the present paper, simulation results from a multi-physics model for gas metal arc welding are evaluated through x-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation. A test component was designed with intent to develop significant gradients in residual stress, be representative of real-world engineering application, yet remain tractable for finely spaced strain measurements with positioning equipment available at synchrotron facilities. Finally, the experimental validation lends confidence to model predictions, facilitating the explicit consideration of residual stress distribution in prediction of fatigue life.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

A new smoothed particle hydrodynamics non-Newtonian model for friction stir welding: Process modeling and simulation of microstructure evolution in a magnesium alloy

We present a new smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) model for friction stir welding (FSW). FSW has broad commercial application in the marine, aerospace, rail, and automotive industries. However, development of the FSW process for each new application has remained largely empirical. Few established numerical modeling techniques have been developed that can explain and predict important features of the process physics involved in FSW. This is particularly true in the areas of material flow and mixing mechanisms. In this paper, we present a novel modeling approach to simulate FSW that may have significant advantages over current finite element or finite difference based methods. Unlike traditional grid-based methods, Lagrangian particle methods such as SPH can simulate the dynamics of interfaces, large material deformations, and the material’s strain and temperature history without employing complex tracking schemes. Three-dimensional simulations of FSW on AZ31 Mg alloy are performed. The temperature history and distribution, grain size, microhardness as well as the texture evolution are presented. Numerical results are found to be in good agreement with experimental observations.

Pan, Wenxiao↗

Corrosion behavior in aluminum/galvanized steel resistance spot welds and self-piercing riveting joints in salt spray environment

Here, this paper underlined the corrosion behavior of aluminum alloy/galvanized steel joints fabricated by resistance spot welding (RSW) and self-piercing riveting (SPR) exposed to different salt-spray cycles. It was found that the crevice generated by different joining methods has an important impact on corrosion behavior. Compared with the RSW joint, less corrosion happened on the coupled regions in SPR joints because of the higher local pH value resulted from the smaller crevice. The crevice, however, has less impact on the types of corrosion products. Galvanic corrosion happened in the coupled region for both RSW and SPR joints. The Pourbaix diagram explained the stable corrosion products of Al and Zn—Fe alloy, which are Al 2 O 3 , ZnO, and Fe 3 O 4 . Additional corrosion products observed from the experiment included α-Al(OH) 3 , Ca 4 Al 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 12 (H 2 O) 5 , Zn 5 (OH) 8 Cl 2 (H 2 O), Zn 5 (CO 3 ) 2 (OH) 6 , and Fe 2 (OH) 2 (CO 3 ), which can be understood by considering the metastable corrosion products, Pourbaix diagram, and possible chemical reactions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Elucidation of microstructural evolution of beta-type titanium alloy joint during friction stir welding using liquid CO2 cooling

Highlights: • Microstructural evolution during FSW was elucidated along real material flow line. • Stirring and cooling stages of FSW can be investigated separately using CO{sub 2} cooling. • In stirring stage, discontinuous dynamic recrystallization predominantly occurred. • In cooling stage, static recovery and grain growth mainly occurred. - Abstract: Normal friction stir welding (FSW) and liquid CO{sub 2} cooling FSW were conducted on the β-type Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn (Ti-15-3, mass%) alloy plates under a processing condition. Since liquid CO{sub 2} cooling with high cooling efficiency can freeze the microstructure formed during the high-temperature stirring stage of FSW, it is possible to separately elucidate the microstructural evolution of the Ti-15-3 alloy during the high-temperature stirring stage and the post-stirring cooling stage in FSW. The deformation temperature during the normal and the CO{sub 2} cooling FSW was similar in the top and the bottom of stir zone, which is considered to be owing to that the top and bottom are located adjacent to the heat sources, i.e., the shoulder and probe surfaces. In the high-temperature stirring stage of FSW, discontinuous dynamic recrystallization predominantly occurred, and a simple shear texture generated in an early stage of the material flow around the tool, then the microstructure started to evolve steadily after a steady-state dynamic recrystallization. In the post-stirring cooling stage of FSW, static recovery and grain growth were found to mainly occur within the stir zone.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗