Development of flaw evaluation guideline for FBR components Original Research Article

Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI) has been conducting a research project on the verification of evaluation method for structural integrity of high-temperature components of Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) plants, in which applicability of inelastic fracture mechanics to austenitic stainless steels used in these components has been studied. A flaw evaluation guideline was generated based on the research results. The guideline provides evaluation procedures for creep-fatigue crack propagation, ductile fracture, and sodium leak rate together with related material properties. This paper presents the evaluation procedures recommended in the guideline.