Model Materials for Reactor Pressure Vessel

Abstract

In this paper we report preliminary results from a study focused on investigation of the role of elements as Cr, Ni, Mn and Si in the radiation stability of reactor pressure vessel steels. Twelve model ferritic steels and eight model welds with basic composition derived from Russian VVER-1000 and Western PWR reactor pressure vessel materials were studied by magnetic Barkhausen noise and Charpy-V impact measurements. Comparison of these two model materials led to the conclusion that the ductile-brittle transition temperatures and Barkhausen noise RMS values of model steels are shifted to the lower values as those of model welds. The VVER-1000 as reference point is shifted to lower RMS values in comparison with model steels and model welds. The next stage of the assessment will involve the investigation of the radiation effect on the model steels with accumulated neutron fluence of 10 19 n/cm 2 .

Investigation of Two-Stage Magnetic Barkhausen Noise Measurement Method at Power Line Frequency

“…The magnetic Barkhausen noise (MBN) exhibits good sensitivity to residual stresses and changes in microstructure of ferromagnetic materials, so the MBN measurement methods are widely used as nondestructive evaluation techniques for inspection of the materials [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Measurements of MBN used for assessment of the quality (power losses) of grain oriented Fe-3%Si steels have already been presented [7][8][9].…”