Reconstitution techniques qualification and evaluation to study ageing phenomena of nuclear pressure vessel materials (RESQUE) Original Research Article

The RESQUE project aims at optimising and normalising reconstitution techniques and is now in its final phase. The project belongs to the AGE-cluster, that also involves the REFEREE project being used as an input to RESQUE. At FISA ʹ97 the reference data on non-reconstituted specimens were presented together with a set of recommendations on temperature measurements (WP1, WP2). Now, the results on the quality and limiting conditions of the reconstitution weld seam are discussed. The combination of this information leads to a set of recommendations for optimised reconstitution parameters that allow to qualify reconstitution equipment and methodology (WP3). The recommendations on the minimum insert length for impact and three-point bend fracture toughness testing have been established (WP4). Recommendations on dimensional tolerance deviations were put forward (WP5) and series of tests have been performed on selected reconstituted irradiated specimens (WP6). All work packages have been summarised. The overall information is being recapitulated in a ‘Proposal for Code of Practice for Reconstitution of Irradiated CV-type Specimens’ (WP7).