The Euratom 5th Framework Programme Project FRAME (fracture mechanics based embrittlement): Description of the project and first results

Matti Valo, Kim Wallin, Enrico Lucon, Milos Kytka, Milan Brumovsky, Beatriz Acosta, Luigi Debarberis, Jyrki Kohopää, Ferenc Gillemot, Marta Horvath

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    The objectives, the experimental research programme and the first results of the FRAME project are described in the paper. Altogether 26 different materials were irradiated in a single irradiation capsule and the Master Curve based T0 shifts were measured for each material. In addition four materials were studied in the programme extension. Altogether approximately 700 fracture toughness specimens were tested in the project. The aim of FRAME was to start systematic development of Master Curve based embrittlement monitoring. Fracture toughness test is clearly superior to Charpy-V test but for historical reasons large databases, on which embrittlement trend curves can be based, exist only for the Charpy-V test. The test data validation procedure used in the project is described with some detail. No bias was noticed between the three main testing partners in the created data. First estimate for a model, which describes the dependence of embrittlement on the copper, phosphorus and nickel contents of the material, is given.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)445-455
    Number of pages11
    JournalNuclear Engineering and Design
    Volume235
    Issue number2-4
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Feb 2005

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Nuclear and High Energy Physics
    • General Materials Science
    • Nuclear Energy and Engineering
    • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
    • Waste Management and Disposal
    • Mechanical Engineering

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