SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1983
STP31851S

Irradiation Experiments in the Testing Nuclear Power Plant VAK

Source

Within the German research program “Integrity of Components” the first two capsules were irradiated in the Testing Nuclear Power Reactor VAK. The materials are of the 22 NiMoCr 37 and 20 MnMoNi 55 types and represent the lower bound of the base material regarding upper shelf energy and chemical composition (Cu, S, P) as well as a state of material which does not meet both chemical and toughness requirements (low upper shelf test melt). Tension, Charpy, drop-weight, and fracture mechanics specimens were irradiated up to a range of 1 · 5 to 2 · 1019 cm−2 (>1 MeV). Despite the materials being at or beyond the specification limits, the results show irradiation sensitivity which can be predicted from the U.S. Reg. Guide Trend Curves (1.99) and KWU Trend Curves in a conservative manner. The procedure to determine the adjusted reference temperature RTNDT (adj.) on the basis of ΔT41J (following ASTM E 185) could also be confirmed as conservative by comparing the different criteria derived from Charpy and drop weight tests in the unirradiated and irradiated condition.

The results of fracture mechanics testing in the linear elastic range show a remarkable temperature margin to the KIc-curve of ASME XI [6].

Prestrained 40-mm compact tension (CT) specimens made of 22 NiMoCr 3 7 material with an upper-shelf energy of approximately 100 J were wedge loaded in a range up to 30 MPa √m and exposed to the water environment during irradiation. Macroscopic examination gave no indications of stress corrosion cracking.

From tests of these specimens in the linear elastic range, a fracture toughness KIc, which was not affected by the prestrain and environment history, was found dependent only on the overload applied during the prestraining procedure.

Author Information

Föhl, J
Staatliche Materialprüfungsanstalt (MPA), University of Stuttgart, West Germany
Leitz, CH
Kraftwerkunion AG (KWU), Erlangen, West Germany
Anders, D
Forschungszentrum Geesthacht (GKSS), West Germany
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Developed by Committee: E10
Pages: 116–116
DOI: 10.1520/STP31851S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4885-7
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0263-7