Compact Tension Specimens for N Reactor Pressure Tube Fracture Toughness Tests

摘要

This report presents the results of a test program used to validate the use of compact tension specimens to determine the fracture toughness of N-Reactor pressure tubes. Plane strain fracture toughness tests using compact tension specimens were conducted on material from a previously tested pressure tube. The results were very consistent and proved the ability of this method to determine the fracture toughness of pressure tubes. This test method is more accurate and precise than the burst type test, which has been used in the past. (ERA citation 09:007505)