Experimental Plan for EDF Energy Creep Rabbit Graphite Irradiations

Abstract

The experimental results obtained here will assist in the development and validation of future models of irradiation induced creep of graphite by providing the following data: • Inert creep stain data from low to lifetime AGR fluence • Inert creep-property data (especially CTE) from low to lifetime AGR fluence • Effect of oxidation on creep modulus (by indirect comparison with experiment 1 and direct comparison with experiment 3 – NB. Experiment 1 and 3 are not covered here) • Data to develop a mechanistic understanding, including o Appropriate creep modulus (effect of pinning) o Investigation of CTE-creep strain behavior under inert conditions o Information on the effect of creep strain on crystallite orientation (requires XRD) o Effect of creep strain in micro-porosity (requires tomography & microscopy) This document describes to experimental work planned to meet the requirements of project technical specification [1].