Non-Destructively Detecting LWR Structural Material Embrittlement using Transient Grating Spectroscopy

Saleem A. Al Dajani; Benjamin R. Dacus; Cody A. Dennett; M. Grace Burke; Kudzanai Mukahiwa; Kuba Anglin; James J. Wall; Thak Sang Byun; Michael P. Short

Non-Destructively Detecting LWR Structural Material Embrittlement using Transient Grating Spectroscopy

Saleem A. Al Dajani, Benjamin R. Dacus, Cody A. Dennett, M. Grace Burke, Kudzanai Mukahiwa, Kuba Anglin, James J. Wall, Thak Sang Byun, Michael P. Short

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Critical components for light water reactors (LWRs) evolve over decades in service, losing ductility and toughness due to thermal and irradiation aging. Destructive techniques to monitor their health may not always be applicable in the field, thus non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods are sought which can quickly and precisely identify the state of major LWR components such as core barrels or primary coolant pipes. Here we demonstrate the use of gigahertz, non-contact ultrasonics to monitor and evaluate the health of cast austenitic stainless steels (CASS), used in some of the largest components in LWR primary systems. We do so by linking changes in their surface acoustic wave (SAW) characteristics using transient grating spectroscopy (TGS) to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verified evidence of spinodal decomposition and G-phase precipitation. Thermal aging is shown to induce SAW peak splitting, correlated strongly with aging time-at-temperature and Charpy impact energy, and therefore increased hardness, decreased toughness, and lower ductility. This case motivates looking at gigahertz ultrasonics as NDE techniques to indirectly detect other LWR material degradation modes, such as reactor pressure vessel (RPV) embrittlement. This would allow for the greater use of NDE techniques to enable confident monitoring of LWR structural material health to 80 years and beyond.

Original language	English
Pages	286-293
Number of pages	8
State	Published - 2019
Externally published	Yes
Event	19th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactors, EnvDeg 2019 - Boston, United States Duration: Aug 18 2019 → Aug 22 2019

Conference

Conference	19th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactors, EnvDeg 2019
Country/Territory	United States
City	Boston
Period	08/18/19 → 08/22/19

Funding

The authors acknowledgegenerous financial support from the International Design Center (IDC) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology(MIT) in collaboration with the Singapore University of Technologyand Design (SUTD). M.P.S. acknowledges funding from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s MIT Nuclear Education Faculty Development Program under Grant No. NRC-HQ-84-15-G-0045. S.A. acknowledges gracious support from the KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP) under Saudi Initiatives at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology(KAUST).This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Founda-tionGraduateResearchFellowshipunderGrantNo. 1122374. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The authors acknowledge generous financial support from the International Design Center (IDC) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in collaboration with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). M.P.S. acknowledges funding from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission?s MIT Nuclear Education Faculty Development Program under Grant No. NRC-HQ-84-15-G-0045. S.A. acknowledges gracious support from the KAUST Gifted Student Program (KGSP) under Saudi Initiatives at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship under Grant No. 1122374. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Keywords

CASS
NDE
Spinodal decomposition
Transient grating spectroscopy

Cite this

Al Dajani, S. A., Dacus, B. R., Dennett, C. A., Burke, M. G., Mukahiwa, K., Anglin, K., Wall, J. J., Byun, T. S., & Short, M. P. (2019). Non-Destructively Detecting LWR Structural Material Embrittlement using Transient Grating Spectroscopy. 286-293. Paper presented at 19th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactors, EnvDeg 2019, Boston, United States.

@conference{3ea58ee1e569413abea81c75930fc785,

title = "Non-Destructively Detecting LWR Structural Material Embrittlement using Transient Grating Spectroscopy",

abstract = "Critical components for light water reactors (LWRs) evolve over decades in service, losing ductility and toughness due to thermal and irradiation aging. Destructive techniques to monitor their health may not always be applicable in the field, thus non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods are sought which can quickly and precisely identify the state of major LWR components such as core barrels or primary coolant pipes. Here we demonstrate the use of gigahertz, non-contact ultrasonics to monitor and evaluate the health of cast austenitic stainless steels (CASS), used in some of the largest components in LWR primary systems. We do so by linking changes in their surface acoustic wave (SAW) characteristics using transient grating spectroscopy (TGS) to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verified evidence of spinodal decomposition and G-phase precipitation. Thermal aging is shown to induce SAW peak splitting, correlated strongly with aging time-at-temperature and Charpy impact energy, and therefore increased hardness, decreased toughness, and lower ductility. This case motivates looking at gigahertz ultrasonics as NDE techniques to indirectly detect other LWR material degradation modes, such as reactor pressure vessel (RPV) embrittlement. This would allow for the greater use of NDE techniques to enable confident monitoring of LWR structural material health to 80 years and beyond.",

keywords = "CASS, NDE, Spinodal decomposition, Transient grating spectroscopy",

author = "{Al Dajani}, {Saleem A.} and Dacus, {Benjamin R.} and Dennett, {Cody A.} and Burke, {M. Grace} and Kudzanai Mukahiwa and Kuba Anglin and Wall, {James J.} and Byun, {Thak Sang} and Short, {Michael P.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 19th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactors, EnvDeg. All rights reserved.; 19th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactors, EnvDeg 2019 ; Conference date: 18-08-2019 Through 22-08-2019",

year = "2019",

language = "English",

pages = "286--293",

}

Al Dajani, SA, Dacus, BR, Dennett, CA, Burke, MG, Mukahiwa, K, Anglin, K, Wall, JJ, Byun, TS & Short, MP 2019, 'Non-Destructively Detecting LWR Structural Material Embrittlement using Transient Grating Spectroscopy', Paper presented at 19th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactors, EnvDeg 2019, Boston, United States, 08/18/19 - 08/22/19 pp. 286-293.

Non-Destructively Detecting LWR Structural Material Embrittlement using Transient Grating Spectroscopy. / Al Dajani, Saleem A.; Dacus, Benjamin R.; Dennett, Cody A. et al.
2019. 286-293 Paper presented at 19th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactors, EnvDeg 2019, Boston, United States.

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

TY - CONF

T1 - Non-Destructively Detecting LWR Structural Material Embrittlement using Transient Grating Spectroscopy

AU - Al Dajani, Saleem A.

AU - Dacus, Benjamin R.

AU - Dennett, Cody A.

AU - Burke, M. Grace

AU - Mukahiwa, Kudzanai

AU - Anglin, Kuba

AU - Wall, James J.

AU - Byun, Thak Sang

AU - Short, Michael P.

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Critical components for light water reactors (LWRs) evolve over decades in service, losing ductility and toughness due to thermal and irradiation aging. Destructive techniques to monitor their health may not always be applicable in the field, thus non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods are sought which can quickly and precisely identify the state of major LWR components such as core barrels or primary coolant pipes. Here we demonstrate the use of gigahertz, non-contact ultrasonics to monitor and evaluate the health of cast austenitic stainless steels (CASS), used in some of the largest components in LWR primary systems. We do so by linking changes in their surface acoustic wave (SAW) characteristics using transient grating spectroscopy (TGS) to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verified evidence of spinodal decomposition and G-phase precipitation. Thermal aging is shown to induce SAW peak splitting, correlated strongly with aging time-at-temperature and Charpy impact energy, and therefore increased hardness, decreased toughness, and lower ductility. This case motivates looking at gigahertz ultrasonics as NDE techniques to indirectly detect other LWR material degradation modes, such as reactor pressure vessel (RPV) embrittlement. This would allow for the greater use of NDE techniques to enable confident monitoring of LWR structural material health to 80 years and beyond.

AB - Critical components for light water reactors (LWRs) evolve over decades in service, losing ductility and toughness due to thermal and irradiation aging. Destructive techniques to monitor their health may not always be applicable in the field, thus non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods are sought which can quickly and precisely identify the state of major LWR components such as core barrels or primary coolant pipes. Here we demonstrate the use of gigahertz, non-contact ultrasonics to monitor and evaluate the health of cast austenitic stainless steels (CASS), used in some of the largest components in LWR primary systems. We do so by linking changes in their surface acoustic wave (SAW) characteristics using transient grating spectroscopy (TGS) to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verified evidence of spinodal decomposition and G-phase precipitation. Thermal aging is shown to induce SAW peak splitting, correlated strongly with aging time-at-temperature and Charpy impact energy, and therefore increased hardness, decreased toughness, and lower ductility. This case motivates looking at gigahertz ultrasonics as NDE techniques to indirectly detect other LWR material degradation modes, such as reactor pressure vessel (RPV) embrittlement. This would allow for the greater use of NDE techniques to enable confident monitoring of LWR structural material health to 80 years and beyond.

KW - CASS

KW - NDE

KW - Spinodal decomposition

KW - Transient grating spectroscopy

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85075339760&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Paper

AN - SCOPUS:85075339760

SP - 286

EP - 293

T2 - 19th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems - Water Reactors, EnvDeg 2019

Y2 - 18 August 2019 through 22 August 2019

ER -

Non-Destructively Detecting LWR Structural Material Embrittlement using Transient Grating Spectroscopy

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