A systematic approach to the radiation damage problem

To assess the suitability of a material for use as a core component in a fast reactor or for the first wall in a fusion reactor, it is necessary to know the irradiation damage behaviour of the material outside the usual materials testing data domain. In the present paper we propose a strategy based on a closely co-ordinated programme of experimental and theoretical research. The aim of this strategy is the systematic construction of a physically based model of the evolving damage structures. This would then allow both the necessary extrapolations of the data to the desired conditions to be achieved in a reliable fashion and provide a rational basis for the development of low-swelling alloys for the two nuclear systems.