NDA@SZTAKI

Nondestructive Magnetic Adaptive Testing of Nuclear Reactor Pressure Vessel Steel Degradation

Tomáš, I.

Vértesy, Gábor

Gillemot, F.

Székely, R.

Elsevier

2013

QC04 Electricity. Magnetism. Electromagnetism / villamosság, mágnesesség, elektromágnessesség

Inspection of neutron-irradiation-generated degradation of nuclear reactor pressure vessel steel (RPVS) is
a very important task. In ferromagnetic materials, such as RPVS, the structural degradation is connected
with a change of their magnetic properties. In this work, applicability of a novel magnetic nondestructive
method (Magnetic Adaptive Testing, MAT), based on systematic measurement and evaluation of minor
magnetic hysteresis loops, is shown for inspection of neutron irradiation embrittlement in RPVS. Three
series of samples, made of JRQ, 15CH2MFA and 10ChMFT type steels were measured by MAT. The
samples were irradiated by E > 1 MeV energy neutrons with total neutron fluence of 1.58 x 10(19)
?11.9 x 10(19) n/cm(2). Regular correlation was found between the optimally chosen MAT degradation
functions and the neutron fluence in all three types of the materials. Shift of the ductile?brittle transition
temperature, DDBTT, independently determined as a function of the neutron fluence for the 15CH2MFA
material, was also evaluated. A sensitive, linear correlation was found between the DDBTT and values of
the relevant MAT degradation function. Based on these results, MAT is shown to be a promising (at least)
complimentary tool of the destructive tests within the surveillance programs, which are presently used
for inspection of neutron-irradiation-generated embrittlement of RPVS.

Article

PeerReviewed

text

http://real.mtak.hu/4911/1/J_Nucl_Mat_Nondescructive_432_37...

Tomáš, I. and Vértesy, Gábor and Gillemot, F. and Székely, R. (2013) Nondestructive Magnetic Adaptive Testing of Nuclear Reactor Pressure Vessel Steel Degradation. JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS, 432. pp. 371-377. ISSN 0022-3115

http://real.mtak.hu/4911/