Evaluations of structural failure probabilities and candidate inservice inspection programs / prepared by M.A. Khaleel and F.A. Simonen.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Khaleel, M. A.

Contributor:

Simonen, F. A.

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (U.S.)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nuclear power plants--Piping--Cracking--United States.

Nuclear power plants.

Nuclear pressure vessels--Welding--Deterioration--United States.

Nuclear pressure vessels.

Nuclear power plants--Inspection--United States.

Nuclear power plants--Inspection.

Nuclear power plants--Piping--Cracking.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource ([195] pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, 2009.

Summary:

The work described in this report applies probabilistic structural mechanics models to predict the reliability of nuclear pressure boundary components. These same models are then applied to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative programs for inservice inspection to reduce these failure probabilities. Results of the calculations support the development and implementation of risk-informed inservice inspection of piping and vessels. Studies have specifically addressed the potential benefits of ultrasonic inspections to reduce failure probabilities associated with fatigue crack growth and stress-corrosion cracking. Parametric calculations were performed with the computer code pc-PRAISE to generate an extensive set of plots to cover a wide range of pipe wall thicknesses, cyclic operating stresses, and inspection strategies. The studies have also addressed critical inputs to fracture mechanics calculations such as the parameters that characterize the number and sizes of fabrication flaws in piping welds. Other calculations quantify uncertainties associated with the inputs calculations, the uncertainties in the fracture mechanics models, and the uncertainties in the resulting calculated failure probabilities. A final set of calculations address the effects of flaw sizing errors on the effectiveness of inservice inspection programs.

Notes:

Title from title screen (viewed December 14, 2009).

"Pacific Northwest National Laboratory."

"Date Published: May 2009."

Includes bibliographical references.

"NUREG/CR-6986."

"PNNL-13810."

OCLC:

488677797