Stable matrix damage

T.J. Williams, K. Wilford, G.R. Odette and T. Yamamoto, A new model of irradiation hardening in low copper RPV steels from stable matrix damage, IAEA Technical Meeting on Irradiation Embrittlement and Life Management of Reactor Pressure Vessels in Nuclear Power Plants, Znojmo, Czech Repnblic, 18-22, October, 2010. 

At intermediate concentrations of fibres (10 and 20 wt%), fracture initiates first by the formation of a frontal damage zone (microvoids at fibre ends, fibre decohesion, microrupture of the matrix) and then by a stable growth of microcracks and their junction into a macrocrack which propagates catastrophically (types 2 and 2 loading curves in Table II, associated with Figures lOA and IOC, lOD respectively). 

Long-term damage tolerant ceramic materials being stable at high temperature, high gas pressures and velocities, and severe chemical environments are needed e.g. for efficient future gas turbine engines Recently, an oxide fiber/ oxide matrix material which aims to achieve these requirements has been developed at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The... 

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