ISSN: 1546-962X
Published Online: 21 December 2005
Page Count: 9

Dosimetry Requirements for Pressure Vessel Steels Toughness Curve in the Ductile to Brittle Range
Carcreff, H
Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Saclay, DEN/DRSN,

Alberman, A
Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Saclay, DEN/DRSN,

Barbot, L
Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Saclay, DEN/DRSN,

Rozenblum, F
Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Saclay, DEN/DRSN,

Beretz, D
Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Cadarache, DEN/DER,

Lee, YK
Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Saclay, DEN/DM2S,

(Received 20 June 2005; accepted 29 September 2005)

Abstract

As part of PWR life-time assessment project, a large R&D program, PV-CT50, has been carried out from 1995 to 2004, to assess pressure vessel (PV) steel's toughness curve using very large compact tension (CT) specimens (50 × 125 × 120 mm³) allowing measurements in the ductile to brittle transition range. A new high capacity irradiation rig was designed to meet the specific CT50 specimens loading requirements in the 70 MWth OSIRIS material testing reactor operated by CEA's Nuclear Energy Division at the Saclay Research Center. This paper presents the measurement and calculation developments required in these particular conditions. Spectrum characteristics and neutron flux levels were determined by a comprehensive dosimetry on mock-ups featuring activation foils and damage monitors. At the same time, a new calculation methodology based on the TRIPOLI-4.3 Monte Carlo code and IRDF-2002 dosimetry files was validated against calorimetric and neutron activation measurements.

Keywords:
toughness, CT50 specimens, damage dosimetry, irradiation rig, OSIRIS reactor, TRIPOLI 4.3 Monte Carlo code

Paper ID: JAI13455
DOI: 10.1520/JAI13455
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