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Abstract
The results are given of the characterisation of a weld made on a plate of A533B C1 1 steel, used in the construction of BWR nuclear vessels.
The work was carried out under an ENEL-CRTN research programme conducted at the CISE for the study of the structural integrity problems of the primary circuit components of BWR nuclear plants, and focused in particular on the application of fracture mechanics techniques.
The weld was made transversely by automatic submerged-arc welding on a 136mm thickness plate.
The parent metal, the weld and the HAZ were characterised from both the microstructural and the mechanical points of view; in particular, the fracture toughness properties up to 300°C were determined, under both static and dynamic conditions.
The fatigue crack propagation was also studied in an environment simulating the plant operating conditions.