Long-term high-temperature exposure effects on mechanical properties and structure of the 42XNM alloy after neutron irradiation in the VVER-1000. Part 1. Mechanical tests

The paper presents the results of mechanical tests of ring specimens made of the 42XNM alloy after irradiation as part of the control and protection system of the VVER-1000 reactor to a damaging dose of ~12 dpa at a temperature of ~350°C and subsequent isothermal annealings in the temperature range of 400– 1150°C (heating and holding for ~2 h). A model was constructed and validated by the finite element method, it describes the mechanical characteristics of irradiated and non-irradiated samples from the 42XNM alloy during tests in the temperature range from 500 to 1000°C. The model was used to plot the temperature dependences of the maximum local plastic deformation and the yield strength of the material under study.