Experimental and Modeling Study on Irradiation Effect of A508-Ⅲ Steel

Irradiation can induce microscopic defects in reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel, resulting in macroscopic hardening and embrittlement. This paper proposes a micro-meso-macroscale calculation framework for the mechanical properties of irradiated RPV steel based on experimental and numerical investigations. The mean size and number density of Fe-ion-irradiation-induced dislocation loops were measured using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These parameters were described by a power-function relationship with the irradiation dose at various temperatures and were used as input parameters for the crystal plasticity finite element model (CPFEM). Nano-indentation tests of A508-Ⅲ steel under different irradiation conditions were successfully simulated. In addition, microstructural characterization and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed the phenomenon of dislocation pinning and the sweeping of irradiation defects during dislocation migration, implying that the dislocation-loop interactions could be responsible for the formation of dislocation channels and curved dislocation lines. Furthermore, increase in yield stress and the ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) at various temperatures were investigated. Results indicated that yield stress, DBTT, and the degree of irradiation hardening and embrittlement increased with the irradiation dose and decreased with irradiation temperature. Finally, the adjusted reference temperature (ART), a significant design parameter for nuclear reactors, was calculated and evaluated using the multiscale framework. The framework can serve as a reference text for extending the life of nuclear reactors.