Fatigue crack growth behaviour of different stainless steels in pressurized water reactor environments
Abstract
Stainless steels are utilized widely in a number of components of the primary coolant of a pressurized water reactor. Such components may be subjected to cyclic loadings in service which could cause flaws or cracks to grow. Linear-Elastic-Fracture-Mechanics (LEFM) concepts offer a very useful tool to evaluate the crack growth of these flaws, and LEFM methods are presently included in Section XI of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. The Section XI curves, however, are presently applicable only to low-alloy ferritic pressure vessel steels.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Fatigue and fracture mechanics
Hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion behaviors in metals
Material Properties and Failure Mechanisms
Publication details
- Journal / source
- CRC Press eBooks
- Pages
- 173–180
- Publication date
- 4 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter