• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.549-560
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• 1996

The purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of small punch(SP) test using miniaturized specimens as a method for fracture strength evaluation of CANDU pressure tube embrittled by hydrogen. According to the test results, the fracture strength evaluation as a function of hydrogen concentration at $-196^{\circ}C$ was much better than that at room temperature, as the difference of SP fracture energy(Esp) with hydrogen concentration was more significant at $-196^{\circ}C$ than at room temperature for the hydrogen concentration up to 300ppm-H. It was also observed that the peak of average AE energy, the cumulative average AE energy and the cumulative average AE energy per equivalent fracture, strain increased with the increase of hydrogen concentration. From the results of load-displacement behaviors, Esp behaviors, macro- and micro-SEM fractographs and AE test it has been concluded that the SP test method using miniaturized specimen($10mm{\times}10mm{\times}0.5mm$) will be a useful test method to evaluate the fracture strength for CANDU pressure tube embrittled by hydrogen.