HTGR Knowledge Base

Conference Article: Strength of irradiated graphite: A review

Abstract

Experimental data on the mechanical strength of nuclear graphite subjected to fast neutron irradiation are reviewed. The effect of irradiation on the statistical spread of the strength measurements depends on the graphite grade and the neutron fluence. At fluences below the ''turnaround'' point, the coefficient of variation of strength determinations for standard reactor grades is little changed, but at higher fluences, and for fine-grained, high strength materials, the coefficient of variation may increase. Although specimens for different locations in a graphite log, or from different logs of the same grade, vary in strength, under the same conditions of irradiation the fractional increase in strength of these specimens will be similar. After irradiation, graphite appears to have a slightly greater resistance to cyclic fatigue, as measured by the homologous stress limits for survival to a specified number of cycles.

view the full text of this article (8 pages, format: PDF, size= 503kB)

Reference:

Specialists meeting on mechanical behaviour of graphite for HTRs, Gif-sur-Yvette, France, 11-13 June 1979.

International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria). International Working Group on High-Temperature Reactors.

IWGHTR--3, pp:69-76