Monitoring of the neutron fluence on the structural components of a VVR-M reactor

Experimental and computational methods for monitoring the fluence of fast n eutrons on the most critical structural components of the WR-M reactor are presented The dynamics of the accumulation of the fluence at the bases of t he experimental channels and the bearing lattice of the core over the last 10 years of reactor operation is presented. A method of preirradiation of s amples of the main structural alloy CAB-I under real conditions in the WR-M core was developed. This made it possible to reach a fluence up to 2.5.10( 22) cm(-2) on the samples. Over 40 years of reactor operation the maximum f luence on the structural components reached similar to 1.7.10(22) cm(-2). T he study of the mechanical properties of forcibly irradiated samples will m ake it possible to draw conclusions about the remaining period of safe oper ation of the reactor This is important for practical applications and is of economic value.