In situ neutron diffraction analysis of microstructural evolution-dependent stress response in austenitic stainless steel under cyclic plastic deformation

Kumagai, Masayoshi*; Kuroda, Masatoshi*; Matsuno, Takashi*; Harjo, S.; Akita, Koichi*

Materials & Design, 221, p.110965_1 - 110965_8, 2022/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2022.110965

A Statistical approach for modeling the effect of hot press conditions on the mechanical strength properties of HTGR fuel elements

Aihara, Jun; Kuroda, Masatoshi*; Tachibana, Yukio

Proceedings of 28th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE 28) (Internet), 9 Pages, 2021/08

https://doi.org/10.1115/ICONE28-64507

To maintain the structural integrity of fuel elements for a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) under disaster conditions, strong and oxidation-resistant fuel elements should be further developed. The HTGR fuel elements employ a hot-pressed silicon carbide (SiC)/carbon (C) mixed matrix to improve the oxidative resistance. Hot-press conditions such as pressure, temperature, and duration would be one of the factors that affect the strength of the HTGR fuel elements. To identify the optimal hot-press conditions for preparing the high-strength fuel elements, modelling their effects on the mechanical-strength properties of the HTGR fuel elements should be evaluated quantitatively. In this study, the response surface model, which represents the relationship between the hot-press conditions and the mechanical-strength properties, has been constructed by introducing statistical design-of-experiment approaches.

Detection of fatigue damage in stainless steel by EBSD analysis; Applicability of EBSD pattern quality

Kuroda, Masatoshi*; Kamaya, Masayuki*; Yamada, Teruaki*; Akita, Koichi

Nihon Kikai Gakkai Rombunshu (Internet), 83(852), p.17-00072_1 - 17-00072_7, 2017/07

https://doi.org/10.1299/transjsme.17-00072

In order to assess the fatigue damage of austenitic stainless steels by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) method more simply and easily, it should be more preferable to use a commercially available general-purpose EBSD analysis software rather than to employ an in-house developed EBSD analysis programme. In the present study, EBSD measurement was performed for Type 316 austenitic stainless steels subjected to cyclic loading, and the applicability of the EBSD parameter relevant to the pattern quality, which could be obtained by the commercial software, to the fatigue damage assessment was discussed by comparing the other EBSD parameter of the averaged local misorientation (Mave), which could be calculated by the in-house developed programme. As a result, the EBSD parameter relevant to the pattern quality, which signified the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the histogram distribution of the image quality (IQ), was saturated at the beginning stage of the fatigue cycles, while Mave was increased monotonically with the cycles. This suggested that the FWHM of IQ could be useful to detect the initial stage of the fatigue damage, while Mave was suitable for the quantitative evaluation of the fatigue damage. XRD measurement was also carried out for the same samples employed in the EBSD measurement, and the XRD data was compared with the EBSD data to discuss the crystallographic mechanism of the change in the FWHM of IQ. As a result, it was found that the FWHM of the (111) XRD peak correlated well with the FWHM of IQ. Because the (111) plane in fcc metal such as austenitic stainless steel was most preferable for slip system, this implied that the change in the distribution of the pattern quality generated by the fatigue loading could be due to the slip deformation.

Evaluation of fracture toughness of fine-grained isotropic graphites for HTGR

Yamada, Teruaki*; Matsushima, Yuki*; Kuroda, Masatoshi*; Sumita, Junya; Shibata, Taiju; Fujita, Ichiro*; Sawa, Kazuhiro

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 271, p.323 - 326, 2014/05

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2013.11.055

In order to investigate the effects of the experimental methodology and the notch angle on the fracture toughness of the fine-grained isotropic nuclear graphites IG-110 and IG-430, the three-point-bending test, which has been recently proposed as the methodology to evaluate the fracture toughness of graphite for high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), was performed using two types of the specimens with different notch angles. The results obtained in this study could be summarized as follows: (1) The values of the fracture toughness of IG-110 and IG-430 measured in this study were 0.890 MPa m and 1.031 MPa m, respectively. It was also found that the value of the fracture toughness of IG-110 was nearly equal to or smaller than the values obtained by the other method reported previously. (2) The values of the fracture toughness of the fine-grained isotropic graphites were not affected between the notch angles introduced by the incisive razor blade. (3) The ratio of the tensile strengths of IG-110 and IG-430 was estimated from Griffith Theory using the experimental data obtained in this study. The estimated strength ratio was in good agreement with the strength ratio obtained from the supplier's data.

Numerical evaluation of crack propagation of ITER first wall with an initial interfacial defect

Suzuki, Satoshi; Enoeda, Mikio; Matsuda, Hirokazu*; Hiramatsu, Hideki*; Kuroda, Toshimasa*

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai Wabun Rombunshi, 6(3), p.365 - 369, 2007/09

https://doi.org/10.3327/taesj.J06.060

The first wall of ITER will be fabricated by means of HIP method for the bonding of cooling tubes and a copper alloy heat sink. A ultrasonic testing (UT) is adopted as a non-destructive inspection method for the bonding interface as one of acceptance tests of the first wall components. Therefore, clarification of defect size criteria is one of critical issues for the soundness of the first wall. Thermo-mechanical behavior of an initial defect at the bonded interface of the first wall was numerically analyzed. J-integral was calculated to evaluate the propagation behavior of the interfacial defects under thermal loading. As a result, it was found that the initial defect size of 10mm 20mm in semi-elliptic shape was unlikely to propagate. This defect size is more than ten times larger than a detection limit of present UT techniques, and it can be resulted that the UT method presently available is sufficient to detect such harmful initial defects of the ITER first wall.

Consideration on blanket structure for fusion DEMO plant at JAERI

Nishio, Satoshi; Omori, Junji*; Kuroda, Toshimasa*; Tobita, Kenji; Enoeda, Mikio; Tsuru, Daigo; Hirose, Takanori; Sato, Satoshi; Kawamura, Yoshinori; Nakamura, Hirofumi; et al.

Fusion Engineering and Design, 81(8-14), p.1271 - 1276, 2006/02

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2005.08.100

The design guideline for the blanket is decided to meet the mission of the DEMO plant which is expected to use technologies to be proven by 2020 and present an economical prospect of fusion energy in the operational time of the reactor. To moderate the technological extrapolation, the structural material of reduced activation ferritic steel (F82H), ceramic tritium breeder of LiTiO and neutron multiplier of Be are introduced. To improve the economical aspect, the coolant material of the supercritical water with inlet/outlet temperatures of 280/510C, coolant pressure of 25 MPa is chosen. Resultantly the thermal efficiency of 41% is achieved. To obtain higher plasma performance, MHD instabilities suppressing shell structure is adopted with structural compatibility to the blanket structure. To meet higher plant availability requirement (more than 75%), the hot cell maintenance approach is selected for the replaceable power core components.

Overview on materials R&D activities in Japan towards ITER construction and operation

Takatsu, Hideyuki; Sato, Kazuyoshi; Hamada, Kazuya; Nakahira, Masataka; Suzuki, Satoshi; Nakajima, Hideo; Kuroda, Toshimasa*; Nishitani, Takeo; Shikama, Tatsuo*; Shu, Wataru

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 329-333(1), p.178 - 182, 2004/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2004.04.340

This paper presents an overview on ITER-supporting materials research and development activities and major achievements in Japan during the period from the Co-ordinated Technical Activities to date. In view of the completed engineering design of ITER during the Engineering Design Activities period, research and development efforts since then have been focused: those for reduction of component fabrication cost; those in support of domestic preparations of a structural technical code for construction; those necessary for operation, and been extended to component-level testing rather than pure material testing. They cover materials Research and Development for in-vessel components, vacuum vessel, cryogenic steels of superconducting mgnet and diagnostics components. Major achievements in each research and development area are highlighted and their impact or implication to the design, construction and operation of ITER is presented.

Nuclear, thermo-mechanical and tritium release analysis of ITER breeding blanket

Kosaku, Yasuo; Kuroda, Toshimasa*; Enoeda, Mikio; Hatano, Toshihisa; Sato, Satoshi; Sato, Shinichi*; Osaki, Toshio*; Miki, Nobuharu*; Akiba, Masato

JAERI-Tech 2003-058, 69 Pages, 2003/06

JAERI-Tech-2003-058.pdf:5.86MB

The design of the breeding blanket in ITER applies pebble bed breeder in tube (BIT) surrounded by multiplier pebble bed. It is assumed to use the same module support mechanism and coolant manifolds and coolant system as the shielding blankets. This work focuses on the verification of the design of the breeding blanket, from the viewpoints which is especially unique to the pebble bed type breeding blanket, such as, tritium breeding performance, tritium inventory and release behavior and thermo-mechanical performance of the ITER breeding blanket.

Fabrication of prototype mockups of ITER shielding blanket with separable first wall

Kosaku, Yasuo; Kuroda, Toshimasa*; Enoeda, Mikio; Hatano, Toshihisa; Sato, Satoshi; Akiba, Masato

JAERI-Tech 2002-063, 98 Pages, 2002/07

JAERI-Tech-2002-063.pdf:11.16MB

no abstracts in English

Study on high-performance fuel cladding materials; Joint research report in FY 1999-2000 (Phase 1) (Joint research)

Kiuchi, Kiyoshi; Ioka, Ikuo; Tachibana, Katsumi; Suzuki, Tomio; Fukaya, Kiyoshi*; Inohara, Yasuto*; Kambara, Shozo; Kuroda, Yuji*; Miyamoto, Satoshi*; Ogura, Kazutomo*

JAERI-Research 2002-008, 63 Pages, 2002/03

JAERI-Research-2002-008.pdf:7.85MB

no abstracts in English