Simulation of triaxial residual stress mapping for a hollow cylinder

Abstract

This paper describes a novel method to determine a two-dimensional map of the triaxial residual stress on a radial-axial plane of interest in a hollow cylindrical body. With the description in hand, we present a simulation to validate the steps of the method. The simulation subject is a welded cylindrical nozzle typical of a nuclear power pressurized water reactor pressurizer; in the weld region, the nozzle inner diameter is roughly 132 mm (5.2 in.) and the wall thickness is roughly 35 mm (1.4 in.). The pressure vessel side of the nozzle is carbon steel (with a thin stainless steel lining), the piping side is austenitic stainless steel, and between the two are weld and buttering deposits of nickel alloy. Weld residual stresses in such nozzles have important effects on crack growth rates in fatigue and stress corrosion cracking, therefore measurements of weld residual stress can help provide inputs for managing aging reactor fleets. Nuclear power plant welds often have large and complex geometry, which has made residual stress measurements difficult, and this work validates a new experimental technique for measurements on welded nozzles. © The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc. 2013.