In-Beam Fatigue of a Ferritic-Martensitic Steel - First Results

Due to its pulsed operation mode, a fusion device will have to sustain thermal stresses and at the same time be exposed to a flux of 14 MeV neutrons. In order to simulate this irradiation condition, a new irradiation device has been developed, in which the specimen can be stress and strain-controlled during the irradiation. For the simulation of the fusion neutrons, a 590 MeV proton beam is used. This type of particle produces from spallation reactions the displacement damage and the helium typical of fusion neutrons in the material. The influence of the in situ deformation on the low cycle fatigue of a 12% Cr ferritic-martensitic steel (MANET II) has been investigated. The results are compared with results from non-irradiated specimens and from specimens tested after irradiation to the same end-of-life fluence. The effects of the different conditions are reported for a temperature T-Test = T-Irr = 573K and a total imposed strain of 0.7%.