1998

Valo, Matti; Wallin, Kim

IAEA CRP 3 was a major effort to develop and validate surveillance methodologies for irradiation embrittlement characterisation and it is hardly any more possible to carry out similar co-operative programmes due to resource limitations. The programme included material characterisation by tensile, Charpy-V and fracture toughness tests. The programme promoted considerably the acceptance of direct fracture toughness characterisation of the irradiated material condition. Specimen preparation by reconstitution technique is becoming a common expertise in many laboratories. The VTT practice has been widely validated in the current programme. However, no international or co-operative validation programmes have not yet been performed with irradiated material, where the technique has its unique value but where possibility of incorrect application is also evident.