Radiation embrittlement modelling for reactor pressure vessel steels: II. Ductile fracture toughness prediction

Modelling for the irradiation effect on ductile fracture toughness of react or pressure vessel steels (RPV) is performed on the basis of ductile fractu re criterion proposed earlier by the authors. The irradiation effect on mec hanisms controlling ductile fracture is considered from a physical viewpoin t. Modelling of the in;irradiation effect is carried out on the critical st rain for smooth cylindrical specimens and on the local critical strain for cracked specimens. On the basis of the performed studies a scheme that allo ws an evaluation of the upper shelf level of the K-IC(T) curve for irradiat ed RPV steels is proposed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.