State-of-the-art review of cladding materials data

To evaluate the stability of flaws in a cladded Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) under loading conditions such as Pressurised Thermal Shock (PTS) requires fracture assessment calculations to be performed. In addition, fatigue crack growth calculations can also be carried out in order to evaluate the growth of flaws by fatigue. This paper presents results of a state-of-the-art review of materials data that are required to undertake these types of assessment calculations. The review deals with tensile, Charpy impact, fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth properties. The effect of such aspects as irradiation, thermal ageing and stress-relief annealing are considered as is the influence of deltaferrite content.