Abstract
The pressure tubes of Zr-2.5Nb are primary pressure boundaries in a CANDU reactor. The major threat to the inservice pressure tubes is posed by Delayed Hydrogen Crack (DHC) initiation and growth. The fracture initiation toughness values are the necessary input data required by CSA N285.8[1]. The curved compact tension (CCT) specimens are recommended. However, the CCT specimen is not a standard specimen specified by ASTM E1820[2]. This paper studies the K factor, the compliance C and the J-integral solutions for the CCT specimen using theoretical analysis and FEA modeling. The modified solutions are compared with the results from the solution for standard CT specimen in E1820 and from FEA. The applicability of the modified solutions is discussed in this paper.
