The Welded Joint Strength Reduction Factors of Modified 9Cr–1Mo Steel for the Advanced Loop-Type Sodium Cooled Fast Reactor

Creep strength enhanced ferritic (CSEF) steels including ASME Gr.91 are widely used in fossil power plants. In the advanced loop-type sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), modified 9Cr–1Mo steel (ASME Gr.91) is going to be adopted as a structural material. Modified 9Cr–1Mo steel was registered in the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME) code as a new structural material for SFRs in the year 2012. The creep-rupture curve of the base metal of this steel was standardized using region splitting analysis method. According to this method, creep-rupture data were divided into two regions, high-stress and low-stress regimes, and those regions were individually evaluated by regression analyses with the Larson–Miller parameter (LMP). The difference in the creep failure mechanisms between the high-stress and low-stress regions was considered in this method. The boundary between these regions was half of the 0.2% proof stress of the base metal at the corresponding temperature. In the modified 9Cr–1Mo steel welded joint, creep strength may markedly degrade, especially in the long-term region. This phenomenon is known as “type-IV” damage due to creep voids and cracks in the fine-grained heat-affected zone (HAZ). There is no precedent for indicating the obvious creep strength degradation of welded joints under SFR temperatures (550 °C or less). Although obvious strength degradation of the welded joints has not yet been observed at 550 °C, it is fair to assume that the strength degradation will occur due to very long-term creep. Therefore, considering strength degradation due to “type-IV” damage is necessary. This paper proposes the creep-rupture curve and the welded joint strength-reduction factor (WJSRF). The creep-rupture curve of the welded joint was proposed by employing a second-order polynomial equation with LMP using region splitting analysis method, which is used for the base metal as well. The WJSRFs were proposed on the basis of design creep-rupture stress strength. The resulting allowable stress was conservative compared with that prescribed in ASME code and the Japan domestic regulation for thermal plants. In addition, the design of the hot-leg pipe in SFR was reviewed considering the WJSRFs.