Computational simulation of cold work effect on PWSCC growth in Alloy 600TT steam generator

Abstract

The paper presents verification results for the validity of a numerical method considering the effect of cold work on Primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC) growth rate in the Alloy 600TT steam generator tubes with a part-through single axial PWSCC. PWSCC growth simulations using Finite element (FE) analysis were performed with considering various cold work levels of the material. From the FE analysis results, the cold work effect was investigated from the variations of the PWSCC growth rate vs. Stress intensity factor (SIF) for the various cold work degrees and initial SIF values. Investigated results were compared with experimental test data available. It was identified that the numerical method could adequately assess the cold work effect on PWSCC growth in the Alloy 600TT tubes. In the simulation, it was found that the cold work could strongly influence the PWSCC growth rate even in a low degree of cold work, less than 2%.