Predicting Rupture Pressure and Leak Rate of Alloy 600 Tubes with ODSCC and Comparing with Test Results (Technical Letter Report)

Abstract

This report summarizes structural integrity work performed for the U.S. NRC that predicts the rupture pressure and leak rate of flawed steam generator (SG) tubes. The work includes pressure testing of straight tubes with lab-induced outer diameter stress corrosion cracks (ODSCC). Existing models for predicting rupture pressure and leak rate of straight tubes with well-defined, rectangular, electro-discharge-machined (EDM) flaws were modified and used to predict the measured rupture pressures and leak rates from straight tubes with ODSCC. Models previously developed for EDM notches in straight tubes were modified for ODSCC by using the equivalent rectangular crack (ERC) method.