AGC-2 Specimen Position Adjustment
This engineering calculations and analysis report (ECAR) calculates the Advanced Graphite Creep (AGC)-2 specimen position adjustments that result from (1) as-built dimension corrections of the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) reactor, experiment, and specimens, (2) thermal growth of the capsule wall and graphite components, and (3) variable specimen elevations as the specimen stacks shrink due to radiation -induced shrinkage and axial load- induced creep. The specimen elevations listed in the experiment assembly documents do not accurately represent the actual specimen positions in relation to the reactor core mid-plane. Prior experiment insertion difficulties have shown that the distance from the reactor top head closure plate to the core is greater than the nominal elevations shown on the ATR facility drawings. Drawing 600001 lists the measured difference between the closure plate and the gearbox support beam as 0.313 in.ches greater than the facility drawings. Thus, the height of the specimens in relation to the core mid-plane is 0.313 in.ches higher than the nominal dimensions. AlsoIn addition, the overall dimension of the experiment is 0.084 in. shorter than the nominal drawing dimension on Drawing 601266 [1]. As a further adjustment, the average weld shrinkage of the three capsule welds is 0.035 each, which affects the as-built position of the lower isolation weld plate (i.e., Part #601266-9) onto which all graphite components are stacked. In addition to the as-built adjustments mentioned above, the specimens also are subject to a stack up error, which is due to their the thickness difference from nominal. This effect is most apparent in the center S-7 stack which that has a large number of specimens (i.e., 170 specimens). Per post-irradiation examination (PIE) measurements, the average S-7 specimen is about 0.0008 in. smaller than nominal. Even though this difference is small, when multiplied by the number specimens, the top specimen experiences an elevation reduction of 0.14 inches. Although dimensional changes were less pronounced in S-1 through S-6, specimen elevations were adjusted based on pre-irradiation length measurements.