Analytic springback prediction in cylindrical tube bending for helical tube steam generator

Abstract

This paper newly proposes an efficient analytic springback prediction method to predict the final dimensions of bent cylindrical tubes for a helical tube steam generator in a small modular reactor. Three-dimensional bending procedure is treated as a two-dimensional in-plane bending procedure by integrating the Euler beam theory. To enhance the accuracy of the springback prediction, mathematical representations of flow stress and elastic modulus for unloading are systematically integrated into the analytic prediction model. This technique not only precisely predicts the final dimensions of the bent helical tube after a springback, but also effectively predicts the various target radii. Numerical validations were performed for five different radii of helical tube bending by comparing the final radius after a springback.