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Tanigawa, Hiroyasu

Publications and source records attributed to Tanigawa, Hiroyasu.

Determining reference standard strength for neutron-irradiated reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel F82H by Bayesian method

The deterministic approach widely adopted in the design of structural components relies on systematically defined design limits using empirically determined safety factors. However, this approach is not always appropriate because structures are subjected to a variety of loads in the practical environment, which may result in excessively conservative design limits. In recent years, a more rigorous probabilistic approach that incorporates material strength distributions has become an important solution. In the probabilistic approach, the probability density functions of material strength properties underpin the design criteria. Here, the objective of this study is to identify the density distribution functions that best describe tensile properties of irradiated F82H to define a reference strength for DEMO design. Due to the limited number of existing data, this study specifically employs a Bayesian prediction method based on Monte Carlo simulations to determine a material reference value with statistical reliability and to investigate its effectiveness. For example, the dependence of tensile properties of 300 °C irradiated materials on irradiation damage and the range predicted by 95% Bayesian estimation was evaluated. As a statistical model for the dose dependence of statistical parameters, the normal distribution exhibited a better fit for 0.2% proof strength and tensile strength, whereas the distribution of total elongation data gave comparable reference values for both the normal and Weibull distribution models. Both models gave comparable criteria for the distribution of total elongation data. The Weibull model also gave better results for uniform elongation. The function best describing the model was a logarithmic law for both 0.2% proof strength and tensile strength, while a power law for both total and uniform elongation, which allowed for more comprehensive data prediction of irradiation data with statistical accuracy for DEMO reactor design.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Irradiation damage concurrent challenges with RAFM and ODS steels for fusion reactor first-wall/blanket: a review

Reduced activation ferritic martensitic (RAFM) and oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels are the most promising candidates for fusion first-wall/blanket (FW/B) structures. The performance of these steels will deteriorate during service due to neutron damage and transmutation-induced gases, such as helium/hydrogen, at elevated operating temperatures. Here, after highlighting the operating conditions of fusion reactor concepts and a brief overview, the main irradiation-induced degradation challenges associated with RAFM/ODS steels are discussed. Their long-term degradation scenarios such as (a) low-temperature hardening embrittlement (LTHE)—including dose-temperature dependent yield stress, tensile elongations, necking ductility, test temperature effect on hardening, Charpy impact ductile-to-brittle transition temperature and fracture toughness, (b) intermediate temperature cavity swelling, (c) the effect of helium on LTHE and cavity swelling, (d) irradiation creep and (e) tritium management issues are reviewed. The potential causes of LTHE are discussed, which highlights the need for advanced characterisation techniques. The mechanical properties, including the tensile/Charpy impact of RAFM and ODS steels, are compared to show that the current generation of ODS steels also suffers from LTHE, and shows irradiation hardening up to high temperatures of ~400 °C–500 °C. To minimise this, future ODS steel development for FW/B-specific application should target materials with a lower Cr concentration (to minimise α'), and minimise other elements that could form embrittling phases under irradiation. RAFM steel-designing activities targeting improvements in creep and LTHE are reviewed. The need to better understand the synergistic effects of helium on the thermo-mechanical properties in the entire temperature range of FW/B is highlighted. Because fusion operating conditions will be complex, including stresses due to the magnetic field, primary loads like coolant pressure, secondary loads from thermal gradients, and due to spatial variation in damage levels and gas production rates, an experimentally validated multiscale modelling approach is suggested as a pathway to future reactor component designing such as for the fusion neutron science facility.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Failure evaluation of neutron-irradiated SiC/SiC composites by underwater acoustic emission

Here, understanding the statistical properties of mechanical properties of non-irradiated and neutron-irradiated SiC/SiC composites is essential for component design. This study aims to evaluate the detailed damage accumulation behavior of composites focusing on two fracture parameters: proportional limit stress (PLS) and acoustic emission (AE) onset stress. The developmental underwater AE technique, which is benefit in non-contact in-situ failure monitoring method during mechanical testing and in handle of the irradiated material, was first applied to evaluate damage accumulation behavior. Two types of chemical vapor infiltration SiC/SiC composites were used: one reinforced with Hi-Nicalon Type-S SiC fiber and one reinforced with Tyranno-SA3 SiC fiber in the form of satin-woven 2D fabrics with pyrolytic carbon interface. Neutron irradiation in the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory reached a fluence of 30 dpa at a temperature of 620–670°C. Four-point flexural tests were conducted to evaluate post-irradiation strength. Weibull statistics did not suggest marked degradation of composite strength. Detailed failure behavior evaluated by AE demonstrated no irradiation-induced change of the AE onset stress (i.e., crack initiation equivalent stress). Failure probability analysis suggests that increasing the reliability of composites (i.e., the Weibull modulus rather than strength itself) is essential to expanding the design margin and benefiting from a probabilistic design approach.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

The status of the Japanese material properties handbook and the challenge to facilitate structural design criteria for DEMO in-vessel components

This work summarizes the current status of the material properties handbook for a structural design using Japanese reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic steel F82H. Specifically, the key structural parameters, e.g. time-independent/dependent design stresses and fatigue design curves, were determined by following the French structural design code RCC-MRx. Moreover, under the Japan–U.S. collaboration, tensile data were newly added to the benchmark heavy irradiation data up to 80 dpa, as critical input information in the intermediate check and review in Japan. Furthermore, the status of structural material data and the near-term and long-term issues were clarified by the evaluation using the attribute guides. In parallel, the structural design approaches, which were newly introduced and extended to cope with the structural design issues under the complex environmental conditions peculiar to the DEMO reactor, were noted with the initial R&D results. Of the many design issues, the multi-axial loading conditions due to the complexity of the DEMO reactor as well as the coolant compatibility and the irradiation effect are mentioned. For example, in the paper, multi-axial fatigue–creep testing and evaluation using the modified universal slope method and brittle/ductile fracture testing and evaluation using the local approach are explained toward DEMO.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Effects of HFIR neutron irradiation on fracture toughness properties of standard and Ni-doped F82H

F82H is the Japanese reference reduced-activation ferritic-martensitic (RAFM) steel for fusion blanket applications. The harsh environment of a fusion reactor, such as neutron irradiation and He/H damage, can result in significant degradation of F82H fracture toughness. Therefore, understanding the fracture toughness behavior of F82H in the fusion environment is critical to ensure the long-term safe operation of the fusion reactor. Here, we summarize seven irradiation campaigns of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) covering five variants of F82H steels, including F82H IEA, F82H Mod3, F82H doped with 1.4% natural Ni, F82H doped with 1.4% 58 Ni, and F82H doped with 1.4% 60 Ni. The irradiation temperatures covered the range from 220 °C to 530 °C and the neutron irradiation dose spanned 4 dpa to 70 dpa. The effects of neutron irradiation temperature, dose, materials composition, Ni doping, and He production on F82H fracture toughness are discussed. Our results showed that irradiation embrittlement monotonically decreased with increasing irradiation temperature until 400 °C for F82H IEA and F82H Mod3. F82H Mod3 showed better fracture toughness than F82H IEA both before and after neutron irradiation. We determined that 1.4% Ni alloying can be applied to F82H for simulating He effect in a fission reactor without jeopardizing the fracture toughness of the material. However, more studies are needed to understand the effect of high dose (>20 dpa) and He production on F82H fracture toughness.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗