Effect of Additional Irradiation at Different Fluxes on RPV Embrittlement

Author(s):  
Kenji Dohi ◽  
Kenji Nishida ◽  
Akiyoshi Nomoto ◽  
Naoki Soneda ◽  
Hiroshi Matsuzawa ◽  
...  

The effect of the neutron flux at high fluence on the microstructural and hardness changes of a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel was investigated. An accelerated test reactor irradiation of a RPV material, previously irradiated in commercial reactors, was carried out at the lowest possible neutron fluxes in order to obtain neutron fluences up to approximately 1×1020 n/cm2 (E>1MeV). State-of-the-art experimental techniques such as three-dimensional atom probe were applied to carry out advanced quantitative characterization of defect features in the materials. Results for the same material irradiated in both high and low flux conditions are compared. For neutron fluences above 6×1019 n/cm2 (E>1MeV) the difference in the neutron fluence dependence of the increase in hardness is not seen for any neutron flux condition. The volume fraction of solute atom clusters increases linearly with neutron fluence, and the influence of neutron flux is not significant. The component elements and the chemical composition of the solute atom clusters formed by the irradiation do not change regardless of the neutron fluence and flux. The square root of the volume fraction of the solute atom clusters is a good correlation with the increase in hardness.

Author(s):  
Kenji Dohi ◽  
Kenji Nishida ◽  
Akiyoshi Nomoto ◽  
Naoki Soneda ◽  
Hiroshi Matsuzawa ◽  
...  

The effect of the neutron flux at high fluence on the microstructural and hardness changes of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels was investigated in succession to the previous study [1]. An accelerated test reactor irradiation of copper containing RPV materials, previously irradiated in commercial reactors, was carried out at the lowest possible neutron fluxes in order to obtain neutron fluences up to approximately 1×1020 n/cm2 (E>1MeV). State-of-the-art experimental techniques such as three-dimensional atom probe were applied to carry out advanced quantitative characterization of defect features in the materials. Results for the same materials irradiated in both high and low flux conditions are compared. For neutron fluences above 6×1019 n/cm2 (E>1MeV) the difference in the neutron fluence dependence of the increase in hardness is not seen for any neutron flux condition. The number densities and the diameters of solute atom clusters for the low flux irradiation materials tend to be lower and larger, respectively, than that for the high flux irradiation materials, while the volume fraction of solute atom clusters increases linearly with increasing neutron fluence, and the effect of neutron flux is not significant. The component elements and the chemical composition of the solute atom clusters formed by irradiation for the same material do not change regardless of the neutron fluence and flux. The square root of the volume fraction of the solute atom clusters provides a good correlation with the increase in hardness.


Materia Japan ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 47 (12) ◽  
pp. 619-619
Author(s):  
Kenji Nishida ◽  
Kenji Dohi ◽  
Akiyoshi Nomoto ◽  
Naoki Soneda

Author(s):  
Naoki Soneda ◽  
Kenji Nishida ◽  
Kenji Dohi ◽  
Akiyoshi Nomoto ◽  
William L. Server ◽  
...  

The through-wall attenuation of neutron fluence of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels is often expressed using an exponential decay function based on some estimate of displacements per atom (dpa). In order to verify this function, an irradiation project was performed in which 18 layers of Charpy specimens and one central temperatue control layer were stacked in a block to simulate a 190 mm thick RPV wall. Three western-type RPV steels (medium and low copper plates and a high copper Linde 80 flux weld) were irradiated in this project. Mechanical property tests of these materials have been performed under a consortium of EPRI, CRIEPI, NRI-Rez and ATI Consulting to fully characterize the mechanical properties in terms of Charpy transition temperature and upper-shelf energy, as well as reference fracture toughness using the Master Curve. Some results have been reported at previous PVP conferences. In this paper, we report the results of microstructural characterization using three-dimensional atom probe tomography (APT) of the medium copper plate and the high copper weld metal. The microstructures obtained by APT reasonably explain the changes in mechanical properties of these materials, and the difference in the response of these materials to irradiation was also identified. The mixed effect of fluence/flux/spectrum is discussed from the microstructural point of view.


Author(s):  
Igor Tsukrov ◽  
Michael Giovinazzo ◽  
Kateryna Vyshenska ◽  
Harun Bayraktar ◽  
Jon Goering ◽  
...  

Finite element models of 3D woven composites are developed to predict possible microcracking of the matrix during curing. A specific ply-to-ply weave architecture for carbon fiber reinforced epoxy is chosen as a benchmark case. Two approaches to defining the geometry of reinforcement are considered. One is based on the nominal description of composite, and the second involves fabric mechanics simulations. Finite element models utilizing these approaches are used to calculate the overall elastic properties of the composite, and predict residual stresses due to resin curing. It is shown that for the same volume fraction of reinforcement, the difference in the predicted overall in-plane stiffness is on the order of 10%. Numerical model utilizing the fabric mechanics simulations predicts lower level of residual stresses due to curing, as compared to nominal geometry models.


1999 ◽  
Vol 577 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hono ◽  
D. H. Ping ◽  
S. Hirosawa

ABSTRACTThe nanocrystallization processes in Fe-Si-B-Nb-Cu and Fe-Nd-B(-Cu-Nb) amorphous alloys have been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and a three dimensional atom probe (3DAP). Cu additions are effective in refining the nanocrystalline microstructures of both alloys, because Cu atom clusters formed prior to the crystallization reaction serve as heterogeneous nucleation sites for the primary crystals. However, the clustering behaviors of Cu atoms in these two alloy systems are different, i.e., Cu completely dissolves in the Nd2Fe1 4B phase in the final microstructure of the Nd4.5Fe75.8B18.5Cu0.2Nb1 alloy, whereas CL' clusters grow to fcc-Cu particles in the Fe73.5Si13.5B9Nb3Cu1 alloy. The nanocrystallization processes in these two alloys clarified by the 3DAP results are compared.


2012 ◽  
Vol 706-709 ◽  
pp. 1527-1532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Suwa ◽  
T. Matsuno ◽  
S. Hirose ◽  
N. Fujita ◽  
A. Seto

In the present study, the effects of inclusions on the local ductility of DP steel are investigated using finite element analysis (FEA). In order to evaluate local ductility, a continuum damage mechanics (CDM) model has been incorporated into the Abaqus/Explicit® commercial finite element code. Furthermore, three-dimensional representative volume elements (RVEs) with ferrite, martensite, and inclusion phases have been used to evaluate the stress-strain response. Simulation results show that the volume fraction of the martensite as well as the difference in hardness between the ferrite and the martensite phases dominates the effect of inclusions on local ductility.


2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 1406-1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Ohkubo ◽  
D. Nagahama ◽  
T. Mukai ◽  
K. Hono

We have investigated the compression stress–strain behaviors of Ti40Zr25Cu12Ni3Be20 bulk metallic glasses prepared by Cu mold casting from various melt temperatures. Plastic strain was found to vary sensitively on the temperature of melts and subsequent annealing conditions. To understand the origin of the plasticity change, the microstructures were characterized using transmission electron microscopy and a laser-assisted three-dimensional atom probe. The fully amorphous sample cast from 1273 K showed 0.6% plastic strain, and it was enhanced to 1.3% after isothermal annealing at 573 K. The sample cast from 1423 K showed 3.0% plastic strain, from which the presence of nanocrystals with a volume fraction of about 12% was confirmed. The sample cast from a higher temperature (1573 K) contained a larger fraction of crystals, which showed limited plastic strain. The effect of the volume fraction of the nanocrystals on the plasticity of bulk metallic glasses is discussed based on the experimental results.


Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1453
Author(s):  
Azad Hussain ◽  
Mohamed Abdelghany Elkotb ◽  
Mubashar Arshad ◽  
Aysha Rehman ◽  
Kottakkaran Sooppy Nisar ◽  
...  

This comparative study inspects the MHD three-dimensional revolving flow and temperature transmission of a radiative stretching surface. The flow of nanofluid is modeled using the Tiwari and Das model. Water is the base fluid, and the nanoparticles are composed of two different types of nanoparticle, i.e., gold and silver (Au and Ag). The non-radiative heat flow notion is examined in a temperature field that results in a nonlinear energy equation. Conformist transformations are used to generate a self-similar arrangement of the leading differential system. The resulting system has an intriguing temperature ratio constraint, which shows whether the flow has a little or significant temperature differential. By using a powerful mathematical technique, numerical results are obtained. The solutions are influenced by both stretching and rotation. The difference in velocity constituents with the elements’ volume fraction is non-monotonic. Results for the rotating nanofluid flow and heat transfer properties for both types of nanoparticles are highlighted with graphs. The impact of physical concentrations, such as heat flux rates and skin friction constants, are examined at the linear extending surface and clarified graphically. Ag-water nanofluid has a high-temperature transfer constant compared to Au-water nanofluid. The velocity profile was also discovered to have a parabolic distribution shape.


Author(s):  
B. Ralph ◽  
A.R. Jones

In all fields of microscopy there is an increasing interest in the quantification of microstructure. This interest may stem from a desire to establish quality control parameters or may have a more fundamental requirement involving the derivation of parameters which partially or completely define the three dimensional nature of the microstructure. This latter categorey of study may arise from an interest in the evolution of microstructure or from a desire to generate detailed property/microstructure relationships. In the more fundamental studies some convolution of two-dimensional data into the third dimension (stereological analysis) will be necessary.In some cases the two-dimensional data may be acquired relatively easily without recourse to automatic data collection and further, it may prove possible to perform the data reduction and analysis relatively easily. In such cases the only recourse to machines may well be in establishing the statistical confidence of the resultant data. Such relatively straightforward studies tend to result from acquiring data on the whole assemblage of features making up the microstructure. In this field data mode, when parameters such as phase volume fraction, mean size etc. are sought, the main case for resorting to automation is in order to perform repetitive analyses since each analysis is relatively easily performed.


Author(s):  
Kenneth H. Downing

Three-dimensional structures of a number of samples have been determined by electron crystallography. The procedures used in this work include recording images of fairly large areas of a specimen at high tilt angles. There is then a large defocus ramp across the image, and parts of the image are far out of focus. In the regions where the defocus is large, the contrast transfer function (CTF) varies rapidly across the image, especially at high resolution. Not only is the CTF then difficult to determine with sufficient accuracy to correct properly, but the image contrast is reduced by envelope functions which tend toward a low value at high defocus.We have combined computer control of the electron microscope with spot-scan imaging in order to eliminate most of the defocus ramp and its effects in the images of tilted specimens. In recording the spot-scan image, the beam is scanned along rows that are parallel to the tilt axis, so that along each row of spots the focus is constant. Between scan rows, the objective lens current is changed to correct for the difference in specimen height from one scan to the next.


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