Utilization of electron accelerators for simulation and studies of radiation effects on mechanical properties of fusion reactor materials

Abstract

Based on fundamental research in the field of radiation damage of materials, a method is developed to simulate and investigate principal mechanical properties of materials with the help of high-energy electron and gamma-ray beams. This method allows a simultaneous simulation of radiation damage arising during use of materials in nuclear fission and fusion reactors with different helium impregnation-to-damage generation rate ratios. The method is used to simulate and study radiation hardening, low-temperature and high-temperature radiation embrittlement and radiation creep phenomena. A correlation is established between the reactor and simulation experiments. This allows one to forecast the changes of mechanical properties of materials under operating conditions.