Application of Automated Ball Indentation for Property Measurement of Degraded Zr2.5Nb英文文献资料.docVIP

Journal of Minerals Materials Characterization Engineering, Vol. 10, No.7, pp.661-669, 2011 Printed in the USA. All rights reserved Application of Automated Ball Indentation for Property Measurement of Degraded Zr2.5Nb Kamal Sharma*, P.K. Singh, Vivek Bhasin and K.K. Vaze RSD, BARC, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085 India *Corrsponding Author: hello_kamal@ ABSTRACT In this work, Automated Ball Indentation (ABI) technique is based on load controlled multiple indentations (at a single penetration location) of a polished surface by a spherical indenter (0.7 to 1.46 mm) and indentation depth is progressively increased to a maximum user specified limit with intermediate partial unloading. This technique permits measurement of yield strength, stress-strain curve, strength coefficient and strain hardening exponent. ABI Testing was carried out on samples of Zr-Nb2.5 (Pressure Tube Material) with different heat treatment conditions in which temperature was varying (550 degree to 900 degree and retention time was varying 0.5 to 6 hour and furnace cooled. For all these test material and conditions, the ABI derived results were in very good agreement with those from conventional standard test methods. Keywords: Automated Ball Indentation, Irradiated Nuclear Material, Miniature Specimen Testing, Zr-2.5 Nb 1. INTRODUCTION The integrity of safety-related components in a nuclear reactor (such as the pressure retaining components viz. reactor pressure vessels (RPVs), pressure tubes) is crucial for continued safe operation of the reactor. Material property measurement is an element in this safety assessment. The mechanical property changes for materials susceptible to neutron radiation embrittlement, which in turn limits service life. Conventional testing (Charpy impact, tensile test, and fracture toughness) of surveillance specimens (if available) poses the problem of exposure to significant amount of radiation. 6