Effect of Long-Term Thermal Aging on the Material Properties of Austenitic Stainless Steel Welded Joints

摘要

In the light water reactor (LWR) plants, austenitic stainless steel is used in the major components such as the safe end of RPV and core-internals and so on. For the LWR plant life extension (PLEX), it is necessary to evaluate the remaining life of components based on the fatigue properties and fracture toughness of long-term aged materials. The present study provides the material test results of thermally aged Type 304 welded joints and the case study on the assessment of the structural integrity of the component based on the obtained material data. The thermal aging condition is selected to simulate that for 80 years service of a BWR plant.