The B&W Technical Services Group, Inc. Failure Analysis Laboratory (FAL) is equipped with a wide range of digital photography and metallurgical instruments used to support failure analysis investigations.
The laboratory is operated by an experienced staff of engineers and technicians trained in failure analysis techniques including microstructural characterization of metals and deposits, fractography, corrosion processes, welding metallurgy, and mechanical testing. Projects conducted in the FAL will typically involve:
- identifying the mechanism or cause of damage or failure of components in service and recommending corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence
- solving material-related problems in manufacturing or fabrication of components
- identifying service-related environmental impurities that contribute to materials damage or failure
- characterizing materials and evaluating their compliance with specifications and their condition after service.
Experience
Most FAL projects involve radioactive components originating from pressurized water reactors (PWR) or boiling water reactors (BWR), although non-radioactive samples have been examined as well. Recent FAL projects include: reactor vessel head degradation, leaking bottom mounted instrumentation nozzles, pressurizer heater tub cracking, steam generator tube failures, filter debris analysis, and investigations involving cracking in springs, pipe weldments, and valve hardware. We are experienced with many alloy systems used in nuclear facilities including:
- zirconium alloys
- Inconel alloys
- Stellite alloys
- various stainless, carbon, and alloy steels
Services
Below is a summary of metallurgical and failure analysis services offered on radioactive components removed from service.
- Visual and Stereovisual Examinations
- X-ray Radiography
- Dimensional Inspection
- Liquid Penetrant Inspection
- Machining/Sectioning
- Rockwell and Microhardness Testing
- X-ray Diffraction
- Microstructural Examination
- Scanning Electron Microscope
- Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy
- Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy
- Bulk Chemical Analysis
- Mechanical Testing
- Formal Reporting
Support Services
- Fatigue and Fracture Mechanics Testing
- Sub-Zero and High-Temperature Testing
- Helium/Hydraulic Leak Rate Testing
- Hydraulic Burst Testing
- Sample Heat Treatment
- Quality Assurance Program (NQA-1, and 10 CFR 50, Appendix B)
- Reactor Vessel Surveillance Program
- Post Irradiation Examination
- Analytical Chemistry
- Radiochemistry
- Decontamination
- Nondestructive Evaluation
- Electron Microprobe
In addition to our in-house capabilities, the FAL has solid working relationships with other laboratories providing additional analytical capabilities for radioactive samples. The FAL directs and oversees the work performed by these laboratories. Examples of techniques used include:
- X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
- Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy
- Scanning Auger Microscopy
- Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy
- Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
- Raman Spectroscopy
- Residual Stress Determinations
For more information, please contact us.
