Output details

Evaluation of residual stresses in electron-beam welded Zr2.5Nb0.9Hf Zircadyne flange mock-up of a reflector vessel beam tube flange

Measurement results from the UK's ISIS neutron source were used to identify the cause of a leak at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation's OPAL reactor and to help model repair strategies. The Head of the ANSTO Materials Engineering Institute writes: "the measurements were used to validate a sophisticated FEA model of the reactor reflector vessel flange which was used to both provide evidence to support the identification of delayed hydride cracking as the root cause of the reactor reflector vessel seal weld leaks and to model the efficacy of the leak mitigation technologies deployed to rectify the leak".