SEDL / STP / STP870-EB / STP37351S

Influence of a Temperature Change on In-Reactor Creep

Chin, BA
Alumni associate professor, chairman, Materials Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Gilbert, ER
Senior research scientist, Pacific Northwest Labs, Richland, WA

Pages: 14    Published: Jan 1985

Download this paper for $25 PDF (212K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

The results of a series of pressurized tube creep experiments, conducted in Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II), were evaluated to determine the effect of a temperature change on the in-reactor creep of AISI Type 316 stainless steel. In contrast to prior breeder reactor experiments where a temperature change was imposed and only a short interval of additional fluence accumulated prior to examination, this experiment examines the long-term effects of a temperature change. Data are reported from three separate experiments in which the temperature history was altered by a linear reduction with fluence, a step increase and a step decrease. Analysis of the data indicated that the long-term creep rate adjusts to the new temperature. However, evidence of swelling and stress-affected swelling resulting from the temperature change were found.