Stress Cracking of the Metal in 08Kh18N9 Steel Pipelines

Abstract

The causes and mechanism of metal degradation in damaged regions of heat-exchange pipes (coil) of the sodium–air heat exchanger of the secondary circuit in the IBR-2 research nuclear facility are found due to experimental investigations. The defects that do not lead to the initiation and development of cracks in contact with a sodium coolant are studied. As follows from the experimental results, it is necessary to pay attention to an involuntary change in the heat removal and to the local loads that cause plastic deformation of the pipe metal during erecting work.