INSIGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS ARISING FROM CURVE-FITTING THE CHARPY V-NOTCH AND TENSILE DATA CONTAINED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES' LIGHT WATER REACTOR SURVEILLANCE DATABASE

摘要

The effect of irradiation damage on the mechanical properties of reactor pressure vessel structures is monitored in operating nuclear reactors according to the provisions of 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix H. In these surveillance programs Charpy V-notch energy and tensile data are collected. Trends in these data have and continue to be used to identify and quantify embrittlement trends, which is a key aspect to maintaining the continued structural integrity of the operating reactor fleet. This paper presents the current results from an on-going investigation aimed at assessing the effect of different curve-fitting strategies on the insights that can be gained from these data trending activities.