Radiation embrittlement modelling in multi-scale approach to brittle fracture of RPV steels

The purpose of the present article is to develop a multi-scale brittle fracture modelling for irradiated RPV materials. For this development, applicability of local brittle fracture criteria for radiation embrittlement modelling is analysed through comparison of the predicted and test results on radiation embrittlement of RPV steels in terms of ductile-to-brittle transition temperature and fracture toughness. The influence of radiation-induced defects on the processes of cleavage microcrack nucleation and propagation is clarified. The physical-and-mechanical models of the effect of irradiation-induced defects on cleavage microcrack nucleation are developed on the basis of dislocation and brittle fracture theories. Stress-and-strain controlled fracture criterion is developed that allows the adequate prediction of radiation embrittlement by various mechanisms. The differences and commonalities are revealed in the nature of material embrittlement due to cold work and neutron irradiation. The mechanism is explained of significant recovery of fracture resistance properties with simultaneous increase of fraction of intercrystalline fracture after post-irradiation annealing. Engineering approach for prediction of the temperature dependence of fracture toughness as a function of neutron fluence is justified.