Environmentally assisted cracking of forged 316LN stainless steel and its weld in high temperature water

The corrosion fatigue (CF) and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) crack growth rates (CGRs) of type 316LN SS and its welds that are used for pressurized water reactor primary water components were evaluated. Effects on CGRs of loading condition, water chemistry and metallurgical microstructure were studied. Experimental results indicated that stress intensity factor K, loading ratio, and frequency control the CGRs of materials along with corrosion...