Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
권호 표지

Multiscale Modeling of Radiation Damage: Radiation Hardening of Pressure Vessel Steel

  • Published : 2004.06.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Radiation hardening is a multiscale phenomenon involving various processes over a wide range of time and length. We present a multiscale model for estimating the amount of radiation hardening in pressure vessel steel in the environment of a light water reactor. The model comprises two main parts: molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and a point defect cluster (PDC) model. The MD simulation was used to investigate the primary damage caused by displacement cascades. The PDC model mathematically formulates interactions between point defects and their clusters, which explains the evolution of microstructures. We then used a dislocation barrier model to calculate the hardening due to the PDCs. The key input for this multiscale model is a neutron spectrum at the inner surface of reactor pressure vessel steel of the Younggwang Nuclear Power Plant No.5. A combined calculation from the MD simulation and the PDC model provides a convenient tool for estimating the amount of radiation hardening.

Keywords

References

  1. G.R. Odette, B.D. Wirth, D.J. Bacon, and N.M. Ghoniem, 'Multiscale-Multiphysics modeling of radiation-damaged materials: Embrittlement of pressure-vessel steels,' MRS Bulletin/March, 176 (2001)
  2. M.W. Finnis, MOLDY6 - A molecular dynamics program for simulation of pure metal, Harwell Report AERE R-13182 (1988)
  3. R.E. Stoller, 'Modeling the influence of irradiation temperature and displacement rate on hardening due to point defect clusters in ferritic steels', ASTM STP 1175, 394 (1995)
  4. J. Kwon, J.H. Kim, S.C. Kwon, and J.H. Hong, 'Modeling of radiation hardening due to point defect clusters in stainless steels', Proc. KNS Autumn Meeting (2002)
  5. L.R. Greenwood and R.K. Smither, 'SPECTER: Neutron damage calculations for materials irradiations', ANL/FPP /TM-197 (1985)
  6. R.W. Hornbeck, Numerical Methods, Quantum Publishers, Inc. New York (1975)
  7. M.W. Finnis and J.E. Sinclair, 'A simple empirical N-body potential for transition metals,' Phil. Mag. A, 50, 45 (1984) https://doi.org/10.1080/01418618408244210
  8. R.E. Stoller and L.R. Greenwood, 'Subcascade formation in displacement cascade simulations: Implication for fusion reactor materials,' J. Nucl. Mater. 271&272, 57 (1999) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(98)00730-2
  9. M.J. Norgett, M.T. Robinson and I.M. Torrens, 'A proposed method of calculating displacement dose rates,' Nucl. Eng. Design 33, 50 (1975) https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-5493(75)90035-7
  10. M.J. Caturla, N. Soneda, E. Alonso, B.D. Wirth, T. Diaz Rubia, and J.M. Perlado, 'Comparative study of radiation damage accumulation in Cu and Fe,' J. Nucl. Mater. 276, 13 (2000) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(99)00220-2