Abstract
A nuclear reactor pressure vessel steel was submitted to different annealing heat treatments aimed at simulating neutron irradiation damage. The obtained microstructures were mechanically tested with subsequent metallographic and fractographic characterization. The relevant microstructural and fractographic aspects were employed in the interpretation of the mechanical behavior of the microstructures in both quasi-static (J-R curve) and dynamic (Charpy impact) loading regimes. A well defined relationship was determined between the elastic-plastic fracture toughness parameter J-integral and the Charpy impact energy for very most of the microstructures.
Highlights
The manipulation of structural materials in the as-irradiated state is a costly, time consuming and hazardous activity
In Part I of this work, a nuclear grade steel is submitted to seven different annealing heat treatments, aimed at obtaining a variety of elastic-plastic fracture toughness in both the quasi-static (J-R curve) and dynamic (Charpy impact) regimes
The relevant microstructural and fractographic aspects exhibited by the materials are employed in the interpretation of their mechanical behaviors in both quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions
Summary
The manipulation of structural materials in the as-irradiated state is a costly, time consuming and hazardous activity. The simulation of neutron damage inducing changes on the mechanical behavior of alloy steels through heat treatment is a recent technology[1,2,3,4] towards the development of laboratory testing methodologies for the nuclear industry, as well as to hydrotesting of prototype and full-scale pressure vessels. The relevant microstructural and fractographic aspects exhibited by the materials are employed in the interpretation of their mechanical behaviors in both quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. On these bases, the feasibility of simulating neutron damage through heat treatments is assessed. In Part II5, additional quenched and tempered (Q&T) microstructures are evaluated in the same way as the annealed materials
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