Neutron diffraction measurement and finite element analysis of stress distribution in welded 316L stainless pipe

Stress distribution in welded AISI 316 L stainless steel pipes (diameter 4" and 10") was measured using residual stress instrument installed at 30MWt HANARO reactor of KAERI. The measurements were made along the axial direction transverse to the weld direction from the weld center to the pipe edge. Measurement tracks were repeated at the depth of 1.5 mm from the surfaces of the pipes and at the mid-thickness of the pipes wall. As a whole the stress distribution in circle divide4" and circle divide10" pipes showed the similar tendency. The stress analysis of the welded pipe was carried out using the finite element method. Reasonable agreement in stress distribution with experimental data was observed.