Prediction of the Brittle Fracture Toughness of Neutron-Irradiated Reactor Pressure Vessel Steels. Part 2

Abstract

We apply the proposed model to study the effect of irradiation on the temperature dependence of brittle fracture toughness of 15Kh2MFA steel. We analyze also the influence of irradiation and the content of phosphorus and copper on the brittle fracture toughness. It is demonstrated that the probabilistic model, which is based on a new formulation of the brittle fracture criterion, allows an adequate prediction of the irradiation effect on the fracture toughness of reactor pressure vessel steels. Alternative models of prediction of fracture toughness are discussed.