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This article presents the parametric study of pull-out radius of steam generator shell nozzle junction for fast breeder reactor. An efficient finite element modeling for shell nozzle junction has been presented in which shell elements are employed to idealize the whole region. In shell nozzle junction, pull-out region is an important part, so that region is taken and studied with different radius of curvature. The pull-out radius varies from 40 to 80 mm. Five models are taken into consideration and each with different radius of curvature. The optimized stress values for all the models are presented here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addition of inexpensive silicon carbide particulates (SiCp) in the aluminium alloy matrix results in materials with properties non-obtainable in monolithic materials. The forging process results in improved properties as well as forms a shape of the final product. The age-hardening processes accelerate the coarse hardening process of the composites and improve strength and ductility. The size, morphology and volume fraction are the key controlling factors that control the plasticity and the thermal residual stresses in the matrix and thereby it’s mechanical and fatigue properties. This research paper focuses on the effect of particle size, forging and ageing on the mechanical and fatigue properties of the cast, forged and age-hardened aluminium 6082 (AI6082) reinforced with SiCp. Al6082 reinforced with three different particle sizes of SiCp (average particles size of 22, 12 and 3 µm) in the forged and ageing conditions were studied. The samples were characterised by optical microscopy, hardness, tensile and fatigue tests. The forged microstructure shows a more uniform distribution of SiCp in the aluminium matrix. The addition of SiCp results in improved tensile strength, yield strength and elastic constants of the composites with reduction in ductility. It also increases the fatigue strength of the composites by increasing the number of cycles required for fatigue failure of the composites for the given value of stress. The results also show considerable improvements in mechanical fatigue properties due to forging and ageing heat treatment of the metal matrix composites [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]