PRESSURIZED CAPSULES FOR DETERMINATION OF CREEP STRAIN

Creep affects the performance of engineering components. The data on t he creep rate of materials during the actual service condition is requ ired to predict the performance of the components during their service time. During the life of a nuclear reactor, its main structural compo nents are affected by thermal and irradiation creep. Availability of d ata on the irradiation creep behaviour of materials is restricted due to the availability of limited irradiation space for testing in the re actors, and due to the complexity of irradiation rigs for creep testin g. Small size pressurised capsules which are simple in construction an d occupy less volume are widely used for generation of data on irradia tion creep behavior of materials. This paper discusses the details of pressurised capsules developed at IGCAR for determination of irradiati on creep behaviour of stainless steel and zirconium alloys.