Caracterización en fractura de aceros de vasija mediante probetas mini-CT y Small Punch. Primeros pasos del proyecto europeo FRACTESUS

This work aims to disseminate the European project FRACTESUS, which will be developed between 2020 and 2024 with the collaboration of 22 partners, European and non-European. It is part of the Euratom work programme 2019-2020 (H2020), in search of sustainable energy and a climate-neutral economy by 2050, where the structural integrity of the materials used in the nuclear industry is essential. The use of miniature specimens is imperative to comply with nuclear safety directives in the characterization of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels, either by irradiation or shortage. Although its reliability for fracture properties determination has been proved, there is still a long way to go to get its approval by the European regulatory bodies. The objective of FRACTESUS is to determine the fracture behaviour of RPV steels, both irradiated and non-irradiated, based on 0.16T C(T) (mini-CT) specimens and Small Punch tests, together with their analysis by means of the Master Curve, and its comparison with standardized fracture tests. The ultimate goal will be to lay the groundwork for the inclusion of these miniature techniques by European regulatory bodies.