Predictive Modelling of Mechanical Properties of Materials for Fusion Power Plants

Completed

Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fusion)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)

Not Cross-cutting

Professor H Bhadeshia
Materials Science & Metallurgy
University of Cambridge

Standard

EPSRC

01 October 2005

30 September 2009

48 months

£103,747

Mechanical engineering

East of England

Metals and alloys -- Materials, Mechanical and Medical Eng

Professor H Bhadeshia, Materials Science & Metallurgy, University of Cambridge

Project Contact, EURATOM/CCFE

This research project is aimed at a thorough understanding of the microstructure, flow and fracture behaviour of metals and alloys with the the body-centred cubic crystal structure. The specific focus is on materials proposed for structural components in fusion power plants; vanadium and tungsten, iron and iron-chromium binaries up to 12% Cr. The project will also examine the changes in behaviour of the materials produced by irradiation. The understanding achieved in the project will enable us to predict the mechanical behaviour of these and related materials. The approach is to use inter-linked computer modelling methods, at scales ranging from the sub-atomic to that of the materials' microstructure. Each level will use input parameters derived from more fundamental levels of modelling. The key elements are (a) abinitio modelling for development of interatomic potentials for use in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations; (b) MD modelling of (i) defect generation under high-energy neutron irradiation, (ii) dislocation mobility in defect-free crystals of the materials and (iii) interactions of dislocations with defects; (c) kinetic theory and kinetic Monte-Carlo modelling of evolution of collision cascade structures beyond the MD timescale; (d) dislocation dynamics simulations of flow, fracture and brittle - ductile transition behaviour. This modelling project will be closely linked to a complementary experimental programme (-750k) funded by UKAEA Culham, which will act to guide development of the models and to verify their predictions.

This work is a part of a larger project with the aim of creating mathematical models for the behaviour of steels in a fusion reactor environment, particularly with respect to mechanical properties. The specific goal of the project in Cambridge was to create mathematical models for the strength, ductility and toughness of steel as a function of the composition, heat treatment and irradiation conditions.

01/01/07