Fabrication history and mechanical properties for ASTM A-533 Grade-B Class-2 steel weld for fully welded nuclear pressure vessels

Till now pressure vessels for light water reactors were made from rolled plates and forgings connected with each other by welding. The optimal quality of plates and forgings are limited in principle by the foundry technology. It is well known that in this process decomposition and segregation zones occur. Besides the heat affected zone created by the welding process is a weak link. The heat affected zone is heterogeneous and can be harbinger of risks leading to cracks. The production of a pressure vessel through shape welding is an alternative. The cylindrical container is produced by the application of one layer of welding after the other in a preshaped form. During the welding process the previously applied layers are simultaneously being tempered. The undesirable chemical residual elements are evenly distributed and segregation zones do not occur. Since we have only welding material the disadvantages of a heat affected zone are avoided. Furthermore the mechanical properties are independent of location and orientation. This shape welding process proved to be highly economical already during the experimental stay. Besides this process is applicable for vessel of any desired dimension