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Interactions between Stress, Environment, and Microstructure causing Irradiation-assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking in Austenitic Stainless Steels

Ickes, Michael (2022) Interactions between Stress, Environment, and Microstructure causing Irradiation-assisted Stress Corrosion Cracking in Austenitic Stainless Steels. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking is a costly degradation mechanism for austenitic stainless steel components in nuclear reactors. This cracking phenomenon involves a complex interaction between the microstructure of the irradiated steel, the high temperature water environment, and the stresses applied to the material. The exact mechanisms involved in this cracking mode are not fully understood.
The series of experiments described in this document are intended to elucidate the relationship between these variables in irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking. The experiments are generally focused on austenitic stainless steels irradiated in pressurized water reactors allowing high-quality and relevant research to be performed. In some experiments, such materials available at Westinghouse Churchill Site were machined into specimens and sent to the University of Michigan’s Irradiated Materials Testing Laboratory for mechanical testing in simulated reactor coolant conditions. The influence of applied stress, radiation dose, and high temperature water chemistry on both crack initiation and propagation is studied. Crack initiation and growth studies will be conducted in high temperature water containing either LiOH or KOH additions (otherwise the environments will be the same, including pH) which will determine if cracking behavior differs in the presence of the two different alkali ions.
The results of these experiments provide insight into the conditions required to initiate and propagate IASCC. This understanding is beneficial to the nuclear industry, where mitigating maintenance costs associated with IASCC could provide substantial economic benefits. It can also inform the design of future reactors to avoid this failure mode.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Ickes, Michaelmri4@pitt.edumri4
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairLee, Jung-KunJul37@pitt.edujul37
Committee MemberBan, HengHeng.ban.pitt.eduheng.ban
Committee MemberParsi, Arashparsia@westinghouse.comN / A
Committee MemberCongedo, Tomtomczen6@gmail.comN / A
Date: 6 September 2022
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 14 March 2022
Approval Date: 6 September 2022
Submission Date: 9 April 2022
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 194
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Swanson School of Engineering > Materials Science and Engineering
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking
Date Deposited: 06 Sep 2022 15:53
Last Modified: 06 Sep 2022 15:53
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/42563

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