Macro-Scale strain localization in highly irradiated stainless steel investigated using digital image correlation
Merezhko M.S. Merezhko D.A. Rofman O.V. Dikov A.S. Maksimkin O.P. Short M.P.
1 June 2022Acta Materialia Inc
Acta Materialia
2022#231
Low-temperature radiation hardening and embrittlement is a major life-limiting radiation effect in austenitic stainless steels (AuSS). A strain-induced phase transformation to martensite is observed during plastic deformation of low-Ni AuSS, often increasing strain hardening and reducing ductility. However, in this paper we show an unexpectedly high ductility of 18–37% during room-temperature mechanical testing of a 0.12C–18Cr–10Ni–0.8Ti AuSS (AISI 321 analogue) cut from the hexagonal wrapper of a fuel assembly irradiated in the BN-350 sodium-cooled fast reactor located in Aktau, Kazakhstan. Using digital image correlation, we reveal two completely different deformation mechanisms in samples with the same chemical composition, irradiated to very similar doses. The roles of the martensitic γ→α′ transformation and neutron irradiation parameters explain the differences between plastic deformation mechanisms in the specimens.
Austenitic stainless steel , Digital image correlation , Irradiation , Martensite , Plasticity
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
Institute of Nuclear Physics, Ibragimov st., 1, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 050032, Kazakhstan
National Research Nuclear University “MEPhI”, Kashirskoe highway, 31, Moscow, 115409, Russian Federation
Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
Institute of Nuclear Physics
National Research Nuclear University “MEPhI”
Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026