| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
Materials Science & Technology 2020
|
| Symposium
|
Advanced Characterization of Materials for Nuclear, Radiation, and Extreme Environments
|
| Presentation Title |
In situ Crack Loading and Measurement Techniques for Gen IV Reactor Coolant Media |
| Author(s) |
Peter Beck, Andrew Brittan, Dustin Mangus, Jake Quincy, George Young, Guillaume Mignot, Samuel Briggs, Julie Tucker |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Peter Beck |
| Abstract Scope |
Next-generation nuclear reactors are seeking to employ advanced coolant media, such as liquid metals, molten salts, or pressurized gases. However, these fluids present corrosion and failure mechanisms unique to each system. Experimental techniques must be developed to understand and predict the performance of structural materials throughout the lifetime of reactor operation. This work describes how loading and diagnostic methods commonly employed in aqueous environments have been adapted to characterize environmentally assisted cracking in advanced reactor coolant environments. An internally pressurized metal bellows has been used to apply a load to a compact tension (CT) specimen without the use of a pull rod or load cell. Additionally, the reversed direct current potential drop (DCPD) technique is applied to measure crack propagation in prolonged sample immersions in these advanced fluids. Initial results and suggestions for employing these techniques in various extreme energy environments will be discussed. |