Radiation Qualification of Nuclear Reactor Components

Abstract

Equipment used in nuclear power reactors requires qualification to environments expected under both postulated accident and aging conditions. Proper simulation of the radiation environments requires a knowledge of the reactor radiation fields as well as an understanding of the physical mechanisms of radiation effects, including dose-rate effects, total dose effects, depth-dose effects, heating, induced electrical conductivity, and synergistic effects. In general, radiation qualification programs have not given sufficient attention to the above topics, partly because of the complexity of the problem and partly because of lack of detailed knowledge of the proper conditions to use for testing. A solution to this problem will require a careful characterization of the reactor environments, an identification of the limiting damage mechanisms, and analytical and experimental studies to determine reasonable but meaningful qualification testing procedures.