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Fracture mechanics testing of irradiated RPV steels by means of sub-sized specimens (FRACTESUS)

Project description

Ensuring safety and operability of nuclear systems by using smaller testing specimens

By 2050, the EU aims to have more than 80 % of its energy coming from renewable sources, with electricity providing for half of the final energy demand. To achieve this ambitious goal, the energy mix will include nuclear power – existing nuclear power plants and future nuclear systems. The EU-funded FRACTESUS project will address the safety and operability of nuclear systems. Since this relies on the integrity of structural material, the project will work to establish the foundation of small specimen fracture toughness validation and demonstration. The project’s goal is to join European and international efforts to achieve a change in code and standards and address the various national regulatory authority concerns.

Objective

Fracture mechanics testing of irradiated RPV steels by means of sub-sized specimens (FRACTESUS).

The European Union has defined clear short and long term objectives to achieve its energy transition towards sustainable energy and climate neutral economy by 2050. The success of this transition relies on the combination of energy efficiency and low carbon energy in all sectors of the economy. In particular, the industry and transport sector will need to rely more heavily on electricity to achieve this goal. In all electricity mix scenarios up to 2050, one needs to rely on one or a combination of existing nuclear power plants, long term operation, new nuclear build and future nuclear systems. Safety and operability of any nuclear systems heavily relies on a defense in depth strategy where the integrity of structural material plays an essential role. Due to material availability and/or irradiation constraints, the use of small size specimen to obtain reliable measurement of the resistance to fracture is needed by the nuclear industry to comply with the amended Nuclear Safety Directive. Small size specimen fracture toughness measurement has already been shown possible. However, some effort is still requested to achieve European regulatory acceptance of this approach. The goal of this project is to join European and International effort to establish the foundation of small specimen fracture toughness validation and demonstration to achieve change in code and standards allowing to address the various national regulatory authority concerns. FRACTESUS is involving in a very early stage regulatory bodies, code and standardization committee, the industry and the international community in order for the consortium to optimize available resources and expertise.

Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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IA - Innovation action

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) NFRP-2019-2020

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Coordinator

STUDIECENTRUM VOOR KERNENERGIE / CENTRE D'ETUDE DE L'ENERGIE NUCLEAIRE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 706 675,00
Address
AVENUE HERRMANN DEBROUX 40
1160 BRUXELLES
Belgium

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Region
Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Région de Bruxelles-Capitale/ Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest Arr. de Bruxelles-Capitale/Arr. Brussel-Hoofdstad
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 420 362,50

Participants (21)

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