About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T25: Materials Science & Technology
|
| Symposium
|
Steels for Sustainable Development IV
|
| Presentation Title |
Metallurgical Analysis and Forward Modeling of Hybrid Laser Arc Welds for SMR Containment Vessels |
| Author(s) |
Christopher Barret Finfrock, Jeffrey Rodelas, Dominic Piccone, Elizabeth Smith, Edmundo Corona, Charles Bryan, Frank DelRio, Priya Pathare |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Christopher Barret Finfrock |
| Abstract Scope |
Next-generation nuclear reactor designs require thick section welds with low distortion, low residual stress and no defects. New welding techniques, such as hybrid laser arc welding(HLAW), are being developed to meet these challenges. HLAW combines a high energy density laser with a metal inert gas arc, enabling deep penetration, narrow heat-affected zones, and reduced heat input and distortion. This study integrates coupon-level metallurgical analysis, instrumented welding trials, and finite element analysis(FEA) to investigate microstructure development, mechanical properties, distortion, and residual stress in thick section welds. High residual stresses were identified in welds without preheating, while the weld microstructure exhibited a narrower heat-affected zone compared to conventional arc welds. FEA simulated the transient thermal and mechanical conditions during HLAW, facilitating low-cost assessments of various weld geometries. This talk will address the technical challenges and opportunities of using model-guided welding trials to inform the design of nuclear reactor containment structures.
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