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Fatigue crack growth rates of irradiated pressure vessel steels in simulated nuclear coolant environment

William Cullen, Henry Watson, Robert Taylor, Kari Törrönen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter or book articleScientificpeer-review

Abstract

The results of the first fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) tests of irradiated pressure vessel steels in a simulated reactor coolant environment are presented. These results are compared with data on the same and similar unirradiated steels fatigue-tested in high-temperature air, and in high-temperature pressurized reactor-grade water. In the aqueous environment, irradiated condition test results show a slight increase in FCGR over those for unirradiated materials, while both classes of data show a substantial increase above FCGR data for the unirradiated condition in a high-temperature air environment. For unirradiated FCGR data, this increase has been attributed to a hydrogen-assistance model, and this is also suggested to be the case for the irradiated results. Possible interactions of material and environment, irradiation, damage, and hydrogen embrittlement effects are discussed.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEffects of Radiation on Materials
EditorsDavid Kramer, H.R. Brager, J.S. Perrin
Place of PublicationPhiladelphia
PublisherAmerican Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
Pages102-111
ISBN (Electronic)978-0-8031-4794-2
ISBN (Print)978-0-8031-0755-7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1981
MoE publication typeA3 Part of a book or another research book

Publication series

SeriesASTM Special Technical Publication
Volume725
ISSN0066-0558

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