Abstract
In the fatigue assessment of nuclear components following the RCC-M B3200, if the results using the simplified elastic-plastic method cannot meet the Code’s requirements, it is necessary to conduct a detailed elastic-plastic fatigue analysis of the component. In this paper, the A-F and Chaboche nonlinear kinematic hardening constitutive models are used to conduct an elasto-plastic fatigue analysis for a typical nozzle component, aiming to calculate the secondary cumulative cyclic plastic strain of the structure induced by the rapid temperature change transient.
The calculation method of nonlinear ratcheting behavior under cyclic loading is studied. The method of determining the parameters of constitutive model based on cyclic stable stress-strain curve is also studied. A sensitive study of the parameters for the same constitutive law is presented, including the results of cumulative plastic strain. The ratcheting behavior simulation calculated by different constitutive models are compared. The results show that the A-F model has a conservative prediction of ratcheting behavior as the dynamic recovery term is too strong. It was found that the Chaboche constitutive model is the better methodology for ratcheting analysis.
In order to evaluate the bearing ability of the section, the membrane strain and bending strain is obtained by linearizing the node strain along the cross section. The ratios of membrane strain and membrane plus bending strain to total strain are calculated, which is helpful to determining the limit criteria for the cumulative strain of structures.
