Boiling water reactor pipe cracking: prediction, detection and life extension

In boiling water reactors (BWRs), austenitic stainless steels (grades AISI 304 and 316) have been used for various piping systems. The welding of these pipes provides the sensitised microstructure as well as residual stress whereas high temperature oxygenated water due to radiolysis provides the specific environment for intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC). After initial IGSCC incidents in BWR pipes in 1974, extensive investigations have been carried out in the last two decades to develop various remedial measures. This paper reviews the various methods developed for prediction, detection and life extension of IGSCC affected BWR pipes. (author)