Measurement of thermal ratcheting strain on the structures by the laser speckle method

Watanabe, Daigo*; Chuman, Yasuharu*; Otani, Tomomi*; Shibamoto, Hiroshi; Inoue, Kazuhiko*; Kasahara, Naoto

Prevention of thermal ratcheting is an important problem for high temperature components of fast breeder reactors that are subjected to cyclic thermal loads. To clarify ratcheting behaviors, structural model tests were planned. Strain measurement is important for understanding the thermal ratcheting phenomenon, however the conventional measurement by strain gauge is difficult at high temperature. Then, Laser speckle strain measurement system using the dual-beam set-up was developed to apply to high temperature structural model tests. This system was applied to the thermal ratcheting tests, which demonstrated the actual operative conditions of reactor vessels. Through comparison with uniaxial test results obtained by extensometers, the laser speckle method was verified. Measured data of structural model tests were utilized to certify the guidelines of inelastic analysis for design, which provide prediction method of strain in components of fast reactor.