Application of Specimen Reconstitution to Evaluate the Ageing of Nuclear Pressure Vessels

Abstract:

Determining the effect of irradiation on the mechanical properties of reactor pressure vessel during the operational lifetime of a nuclear power plant is crucial from the safe operation point of view. That information is derived from the investigations of specimens made of the same material as the pressure vessel. One of the most commonly used methods is the Charpy test. In order to better use the limited volume of the available space for specimens in the reactor, and further investigate the radiation ageing of used samples, the probe reconstitution by welding is applied. The reconstituted specimen can be investigated three times thus improving the amount of data gained and reducing the radioactive waste. In the presented paper the stud welding technology was investigated, the effect of different stud geometries and weld protection on the quality of the final product will be discussed.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 729)
• Pages: 487-492
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.729.487
• Online since: November 2012
• Authors: Richárd Székely, Ákos Horváth
• Keywords: RPV Ageing, Specimen Reconstitution, Stud Welding, Surveillance Specimens

References

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