Consideration of special effects for the application of an optimized fracture mechanics approach for the RPV safety assessment (CAMERA)

A comprehensive fracture mechanics test program called CAMERA was carried out for seven RPV base and weld materials in unirradiated and irradiated conditions. The objective was to establish an application-oriented completion of the fracture mechanics approach for the RPV safety assessment over the entire relevant temperature range up to operating temperature. For this purpose, fracture toughness tests in the ductile-brittle transition region with and without warm pre-stress (WPS), and in the ductile region (upper shelf) were performed in order to complete the fracture toughness curves of the material concerned. The test program was completed by various analytical and numerical calculations and microstructural analyses. The benefit of the WPS effect was confirmed for both the material (higher apparent fracture toughness values) and the load path (no initiation after maximum loading). By fracture toughness tests in the ductile regime the fracture toughness curve could be completed up to the operating temperature and the T₀ based criterion temperature T_US above which no brittle fracture occurs was determined and successfully verified. Based on the results obtained by the Master Curve, WPS and crack resistance tests it was demonstrated how to integrate the criterion temperature T_US in the fracture toughness-temperature diagram including the loading transient to an application window for the RPV safety assessment that is based on T₀ only. For three out of nineteen data sets the homogeneity screening procedure described in ASTM E1921 did indicate a macroscopically inhomogeneous material for that a generally conservative reference temperature T_0IN was calculated that is on average 11 K higher than the reference temperature T₀. A higher susceptibility of weld materials for macroscopic material inhomogeneity compared to base materials was found. The suitability of the applied SE(B) and C(T) specimens for the specific fracture mechanics tests (WPS and/or crack resistance in ductile region) was proven. Micromechanical Local Approach damage models (Bordet and Gurson) were successfully applied for test design and prediction of fracture toughness. The overall results reveal even so some open gaps remaining for future work that are addressed as well.