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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Development of Novel Functionally Graded Transition Joints for Improving the Creep Strength of Dissimilar Metal Welds in Nuclear Applications

Steam generators of the small modular Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) will require use of Alloy 800 and 2.25Cr-1Mo steel in different regions depending on temperature and corrosion resistance requirements. As a result, Dissimilar Metal Welds (DMWs) between these two materials are critical for design, development, and manufacturing of the VHTR. DMWs are also used in many other applications in the power generation and petrochemical industries. Experience has demonstrated that failures of such DMWs can occur prematurely well below the expected creep life of either base metal, and these failures have significant consequences in terms of plant reliability, safety, and economic impact. These DMWs failures are caused by the abrupt change in composition that occurs at the weld interface between the two alloys. In this research, the concept of developing and optimizing Graded Transition Joints (GTJ) was developed through an integrated modeling and experimental approach. With GTJs, the composition is gradually graded between the two alloys, thus eliminating the sharp change in composition that causes failure. Microstructural modeling was first conducted to identify the optimum grade length required for improved resistance to carbon diffusion that is largely responsible for premature failure. Next, GTJs were fabricated and characterized in detail to understand how the microstructure evolves during fabrication and long term aging. Finally, the creep behavior of the GTJs was investigated and compared to that of conventional DMWs to demonstrate the superior creep strength of the GTJs. The results of this research provide significant insight into design, fabrication, microstructural evolution, and resultant performance of GTJs that can be used for reducing or eliminating DMW failures in a number of high temperature applications. The results also demonstrate that the GTJs can be readily fabricated with either conventional or additive manufacturing processes, and detailed guidelines are provided on the length of grades needed for optimal performance. The results of this research benefits the general public by improving the reliability of power generation and petrochemical plants that rely on DMWs for safe and reliable operation to deliver power and other products.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Method for computationally efficient design of dielectric laser accelerator structures

Here, dielectric microstructures have generated much interest in recent years as a means of accelerating charged particles when powered by solid state lasers. The acceleration gradient (or particle energy gain per unit length) is an important figure of merit. To design structures with high acceleration gradients, we explore the adjoint variable method, a highly efficient technique used to compute the sensitivity of an objective with respect to a large number of parameters. With this formalism, the sensitivity of the acceleration gradient of a dielectric structure with respect to its entire spatial permittivity distribution is calculated by the use of only two full-field electromagnetic simulations, the original and ‘adjoint’. The adjoint simulation corresponds physically to the reciprocal situation of a point charge moving through the accelerator gap and radiating. Using this formalism, we perform numerical optimizations aimed at maximizing acceleration gradients, which generate fabricable structures of greatly improved performance in comparison to previously examined geometries.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Microstructural Investigations in Metals Using Atom Probe Tomography with a Novel Specimen-Electrode Geometry

In this work, a new atom probe design is presented along with data showing spectral performance and selected microstructural characterization examples. The instrument includes a curved reflectron, a 532-nm laser, and an integrated, fixed-position, counter electrode in a configuration with moderate electric field enhancement that includes improvements in ease of use and cost of ownership. Both voltage-pulsed and laser-pulsed performance is shown for a variety of materials including Al, Si, W, 316 stainless steel, Inconel 718, and GaN. Characterization of grain boundaries and phase boundaries, including correlation with transmission electron backscatter diffraction results in Inconel 718, is shown. Lastly, a detailed case study of the resultant microstructure between laser-beam and electron-beam additive manufacturing paths in Inconel 718 is also presented.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2019

Status Report: Design and Fabricate Installation-Ready Test Capsule for the In-Situ Measurement of Elastic Properties Using an Optical Fiber-Based Measurement Technique

Microstructure evolution due to irradiation in a nuclear reactor can have a dramatic effect on material properties. A better understanding of this evolution is necessary for developing improved nuclear fuels and materials. The ability to measure such changes in real time is extremely limited due to the harsh conditions, high radiation fields, and limited access of the reactor environment. Through carefully designed experiments, measurement of elastic properties can be tied directly to microstructure. We present the methodology, design, and deployment plan for an instrument that has been developed to monitor grain microstructural changes during irradiation. Our measurement approach involves exciting and measuring the resonant frequency of a thin cantilever beam. Excitation and detection of the flexural vibrations of the beam are accomplished using optical methods that require only an optical fiber connection between the instrumentation and the sample. This technique has been demonstrated in a laboratory setting to monitor the recrystallization of highly textured copper during high temperature annealing. A test capsule incorporating this technique has been developed for in reactor testing. The capsule has been designed to be compatible with a reusable test module that allows simplified insertion in the TREAT reactor at INL. An exact replica of the instrument described in this Status Report, constructed from Quality Level 3 materials, is slated to be inserted into the TREAT reactor in FY19.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Manufacturing and stiffness constraints for topology optimized periodic structures

Topology optimization (TO) is commonly applied to design the unit cells of periodic structures. For example, metamaterials, lattice structures, phononic crystals (PhC), and photonic crystals (PC) have all been previously designed via TO. Unfortunately, the optimal structures for certain design objectives, e.g., bandgaps, are often impossible to manufacture as they have disconnected regions or “islands” of solid material (ISM) that are not self-supporting. Additionally, designs with enclosed void space (EVS) are problematic for additive manufacturing (AM) since support material or pre-sintered powder cannot be removed after manufacturing. We present a series of constraints that may be incorporated into any TO framework to ensure structures are self-supporting without enclosed voids. Additionally, we employ homogenization-based constraints that allow the designer to tune the elastic stiffness and isotropy of the optimized design. The proposed constraints are evaluated on example microstructures and utilized in a simple optimization test problem to highlight their abilities and limitations so that guidelines for appropriate combinations of constraints may be proposed. Effective constraint combinations are demonstrated on the design of 3D photonic crystals for maximum bandgap subject to manufacturing and stiffness constraints.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Transmission electron microscopy characterization of the fuel-cladding chemical interactions in HT9 cladded U-10Zr fuel

Fuel cladding chemical interaction (FCCI) is a key phenomenon needs to be better understood to establish the design basis for U-10Zr metallic fuel performance. Characterizing the microstructure and chemical composition of FCCI at micron and sub-micron scale is critically important toward a more mechanistic understanding of FCCI phenomenon and its potential effects on cladding integrity and metallic fuel performance. This paper, by using transmission electron microscopy, investigated the FCCI region in HT9 cladded U-10Zr fuel irradiated to 5.7% FIMA burnup at a peak inner cladding temperature of 615 °C in Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). Four distinct layers are identified in the FCCI region. The migration of Fe into the fuel side leads to the formation of several U-Zr-Fe ternary phases, including ?-Fe0.5Zr0.32U0.18, e-Fe0.3Zr0.4U0.3, and ?-Fe0.06Zr0.23U0.71, mingled with UFe2, U6Fe, and U phase at various Fe penetration depth up to ~ 150 µm. On the cladding side, grain coarsening and significant lanthanides infiltration along grain boundaries are observed. Laves phase, (Fe,Cr)2(Mo,W), which typically does not exist in fresh HT9, is identified in a wide radial range in the cladding. The typical HT9 martensitic lath structure and pre-existing M23C6 precipitates disappear, partially or completely, depending on the radial distance from the fuel-cladding interface. Those microstructural and compositional changes could cause mechanical degradation in the HT9 cladding. The present characterization results will improve the understanding of FCCI phenomenon and facilitate the development of microstructure-informed FCCI modeling for metallic fuel.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Materials for Advanced Ultrasupercritical Steam Turbines Task 3: Materials for Non-Welded Rotors, Buckets, and BoltingMaterials for Advanced Ultrasupercritical Steam Turbines

The primary objective of the task was to characterize the materials suitable for mechanically coupled rotor, buckets and bolting operating with an inlet temperature of 760°C (1400°F). A previous study DOE-FC26-05NT42442, identified alloys such as Haynes®282®, Nimonic 105, Inconel 740, Waspaloy, Nimonic 263, and Inconel 617 as potential alloys that met the requirements for the necessary operating conditions. Of all the identified materials, Waspaloy has been widely utilized in the aviation industry in the form of disk and other smaller forgings, and sufficient material properties and vendor experience exist, for the design and manufacture of large components. The European program characterizing materials for A-USC conditions are evaluating Nimonic 263 and Inconel 617 for large components. Inconel 740 has been studied extensively as a part of the boiler consortium and is code approved. Therefore, the consortium focused efforts in the development of material properties for Haynes®282® and Nimonic 105 to avoid replicative efforts and provide material choices/trade off during the detailed design of large components. Commercially available Nimonic 105 and Haynes®282® were evaluated for microstructural stability by long term thermal exposure studies. Material properties requisite for design such as tensile, creep / rupture, low cycle fatigue, high cycle fatigue, fatigue crack growth rate, hold-time fatigue, fracture toughness, and stress relaxation are documented in this report. A key requisite for the success of the program was a need demonstrate the successful scale up of the down-selected alloys, to large components. All property evaluations in the past were performed on commercially available bar/billet forms. Components in power plant equipment such as rotors and castings are several orders in magnitude larger and there is a real need to resolve the scalability issue. Nimonic 105 contains high volume fraction y’ [>50%], and hence the alloy is best suited for smaller forging and valve internals, bolts, smaller blades. Larger Nimonic 105 forgings, would precipitate y’ during the surface cooling during forging, leading to surface cracks. The associate costs in forging Nimonic 105 to larger sizes [hotter dies, press requirements], were beyond the scope of this task and not investigated further. Haynes®282® has 20 - 25% volume fraction y’ was a choice for large components, albeit untested. A larger ingot diameter is pre-requisite for a larger diameter forging and achieves the “typically” accepted working ratio of 2.5-3:1. However, Haynes®282® is manufactured via a double melt process [VIM-ESR] limited by size [<18-16” diameter], which limited the maximum size of the final forging. The report documents the development of a 24” diameter triple melt ingot, surpassing the current available technology. A second triple melt ingot was manufactured and successfully forged into a 44” diameter disk. The successful developments in triple melting process and the large diameter forging of Haynes®282® resolved the scalability issues and involved the first of its kind attempt in the world for this alloy. The complete characterization of Haynes®282® forging was performed and documented in this report. The dataset from the commercially available Haynes®282® [grain size ASTM 3-4] and the finer grain size disk forging [ASTM 8-9] offer an additional design tradeoff to balance creep and fatigue during the future design process.

Saha, Deepak↗
DOE OSTI2018

Microstructures and properties of high-entropy alloy films and coatings: a review

In the past 14 years, as a branch of high-entropy alloy (HEA) materials, HEA films and coatings have exhibited the attractive and unique properties, relative to the conventional film and coating materials. The recent research and development of HEA films and coatings are reviewed in this paper. At first, the basic concept of HEAs films and coatings are introduced. Then, their preparation technologies, microstructures and appealing properties are summarized. Moreover, the possible reasons and design criteria for achieving the excellent properties are discussed. Finally, the suggested future research work for the HEA films and coatings are outlined. Preparation technologies, microstructures, and properties of HEA films and coatings are reviewed in this paper. The design criteria and suggested research directions are further discussed and proposed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Magnetic state switching in FeGa microstructures

This work demonstrates that magnetoelectric composite heterostructures can be designed at the length scale of 10µms that can be switched from a magnetized state to a vortex state, effectively switching the magnetization off, using electric field induced strain. This was accomplished using thin film magnetoelectric heterostructures of Fe 81.4 Ga 18.6 on a single crystal (011) [Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 ] 0.68 -[PbTiO 3 ] 0.32 (PMN-32PT) ferroelectric substrate. Here, the heterostructures were tripped from a multi-domain magnetized state to a flux closure vortex state using voltage induced strain in a piezoelectric substrate. FeGa heterostructures were deposited on a Si-substrate for superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry characterization of the magnetic properties. The magnetoelectric coupling of a FeGa continuous film on PMN-32PT was characterized using a magneto optical Kerr effect magnetometer with bi-axial strain gauges, and magnetic multi-domain heterostructures were imaged using x-ray magnetic circular dichroism—photoemission electron microscopy during the transition to the vortex state. The domain structures were modelled using MuMax 3 , a micromagnetics code, and compared with observations. The results provide considerable insight into designing magnetoelectric heterostructures that can be switched from an ‘on’ state to an ‘off’ state using electric field induced strain.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2020

Bioinspired multilayered cellular composites with enhanced energy absorption and shape recovery

Inspired by the multiscale configuration of the microstructure of cork, the paper describes the design, 3D printing, and evaluation of a new type of multilayered cellular composite (MCC) structure composed of hard brittle and soft flexible phases. The mechanical behavior of 3D printed MCC structures have been investigated both experimentally and numerically. The experiments show that the MCC structure absorbs four times the amount of energy of a conventional cellular configuration under compressive strains up to 70%. Finite element simulations and 2D digital image correlation (DIC) also show that the multilayered architecture provides a more uniform strain distribution and higher stress transfer efficiency, with a resulting progressive failure mode rather than a catastrophic one. Cyclic loading tests demonstrate that the MCC structure also possesses exceptional shape recoverability under compressive deformations up to 40%. These remarkable performance characteristics result from synergies between the properties of the two constituent materials and the chosen multilayered cellular microstructure. The soft phase, in particular, plays a pivotal role in absorbing elastic energy during loading and then releasing the stored energy while unloading. The volume fraction of the soft phase is also essential to control energy absorption and the transition of failure modes. The deformation mechanisms demonstrated here are robust and applicable to other architected cellular materials across multiple length scales and suggest new ways to design lightweight and high-resilience structural materials.

bioinspired composites↗
DOE OSTI2018

Signatures of the unique microstructure of additively manufactured steel observed via diffraction

A series of measurements were designed to gain confidence in the interpretation of the peak breadth in diffraction patterns collected from additively manufactured material, which has a novel microstructure in comparison to the well understood microstructure of wrought materials. Stainless steels made with two additive manufacturing techniques were compared to wrought material. Similar patterns observed in the scattering vector dependence for additively manufactured and deformed wrought materials suggested that the broadening in both materials was related to dislocations. Finally, this was confirmed by heat-treatment, during which both materials exhibited recovery due to the annealing of dislocations at the same temperature.

304L stainless-steel↗
NASA NTRS1994

Infinite possibilities: Computational structures technology

Computational Fluid Dynamics (or CFD) methods are very familiar to the research community. Even the general public has had some exposure to CFD images, primarily through the news media. However, very little attention has been paid to CST--Computational Structures Technology. Yet, no important design can be completed without it. During the first half of this century, researchers only dreamed of designing and building structures on a computer. Today their dreams have become practical realities as computational methods are used in all phases of design, fabrication and testing of engineering systems. Increasingly complex structures can now be built in even shorter periods of time. Over the past four decades, computer technology has been developing, and early finite element methods have grown from small in-house programs to numerous commercial software programs. When coupled with advanced computing systems, they help engineers make dramatic leaps in designing and testing concepts. The goals of CST include: predicting how a structure will behave under actual operating conditions; designing and complementing other experiments conducted on a structure; investigating microstructural damage or chaotic, unpredictable behavior; helping material developers in improving material systems; and being a useful tool in design systems optimization and sensitivity techniques. Applying CST to a structure problem requires five steps: (1) observe the specific problem; (2) develop a computational model for numerical simulation; (3) develop and assemble software and hardware for running the codes; (4) post-process and interpret the results; and (5) use the model to analyze and design the actual structure. Researchers in both industry and academia continue to make significant contributions to advance this technology with improvements in software, collaborative computing environments and supercomputing systems. As these environments and systems evolve, computational structures technology will evolve. By using CST in the design and operation of future structures systems, engineers will have a better understanding of how a system responds and lasts, more cost-effective methods of designing and testing models, and improved productivity. For informational and educational purposes, a videotape is being produced using both static and dynamic images from research institutions, software and hardware companies, private individuals, and historical photographs and drawings. The extensive number of CST resources indicates its widespread use. Applications run the gamut from simpler university-simulated problems to those requiring solutions on supercomputers. In some cases, an image or an animation will be mapped onto the actual structure to show the relevance of the computer model to the structure. Transferring the digital files to videotape presents a number of problems related to maintaining the quality of the original image, while still producing a broadcast quality videotape. Since researchers normally do not create a computer image using traditional composition theories or video production requirements, often the image loses some of its original digital quality and impact when transferred to videotape. Although many CST images are currently available, those that are edited into the final project must meet two important criteria: they must complement the narration, and they must be broadcast quality when recorded on videotape.

Beam, Sherilee F.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Microstructure and mesh sensitivities of mesoscale surrogate driving force measures for transgranular fatigue cracks in polycrystals

The number of cycles required to form and grow microstructurally small fatigue cracks in metals exhibits substantial variability, particularly for low applied strain amplitudes. This variability is commonly attributed to the heterogeneity of cyclic plastic deformation within the microstructure, and presents a challenge to minimum life design of fatigue resistant components. Our paper analyzes sources of variability that contribute to the driving force of transgranular fatigue cracks within nucleant grains. We also employ crystal plasticity finite element simulations that explicitly render the polycrystalline microstructure and Fatigue Indicator Parameters (FIPs) averaged over different volume sizes and shapes relative to the anticipated fatigue damage process zone. Volume averaging is necessary to both achieve description of a finite fatigue damage process zone and to regularize mesh dependence in simulations. Furthermore, results from constant amplitude remote applied straining are characterized in terms of the extreme value distributions of volume averaged FIPs. Grain averaged FIP values effectively mitigate mesh sensitivity, but they smear out variability within grains. Furthermore, volume averaging over bands that encompass critical transgranular slip planes appear to present the most attractive approach to mitigate mesh sensitivity while preserving variability within grains.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2012

Friction-Stir-Welded and Spin-Formed End Domes for Cryogenic Tanks

Manufacturing of single-piece end domes for cryogenic tanks employing spin forming of tailored, friction-stir-welded blanks of Al-Li alloy 2195 plate offers cost and reliability benefits. The introduction of plastic deformation into a friction stir weld is a unique feature of the proposed manufacturing route. This investigation addressed abnormal grain growth [AGG] within the friction stir weldments during postfabrication processing of a prototype dome. The phenomenon of AGG was observed during the solution heat treatment [SHT] phase of T8 tempering and is a major concern for meeting specifications. Such abrupt microstructural transitions can be detrimental to notch-sensitive mechanical properties, such as ductility and/or fracture toughness. If the issue of AGG cannot be resolved, then the acceptance of this approach as a viable manufacturing route may be in jeopardy. The innovative approach adopted in this investigation was the insertion of a stand-alone, Intermediate Annealing Treatment [IAT] between the spin forming and T8 processing operations. A simple, recovery annealing step was deemed to be the most readily-scalable solution when fabricating thin-walled, ellipsoidal domes. The research effort culminated in the development of an effective IAT, which resulted in a significant decrease in AGG following SHT. The processing philosophy adopted in designing the IAT is outlined and the microstructural reasons for success are discussed. The analytical results presented are consistent with promoting continuous grain growth during the IAT, thereby suppressing AGG during the SHT.

Hales, S. J.↗
DOE OSTI2012

In-situ Characterization of Cast Stainless Steel Microstructures

Cast austenitic stainless steel (CASS) was commonly used in selected designs of nuclear power reactor systems for corrosion resistance and enhanced durability in service. CASS materials are generally coarse-grained and elastically anisotropic in nature, and are consequently difficult to inspect ultrasonically, largely due to detrimental effects of ultrasonic wave interactions with the coarse-grain microstructures. To address the inspection needs for these materials, new approaches that are robust to these phenomena are being developed. However, to enhance the probability of detecting flaws, knowledge of the microstructure and the corresponding acoustic properties of the material may be required. This paper discusses the application of ultrasonic backscatter measurement methods for classifying the microstructure of CASS components, when making measurements from the outside surface of the pipe or component. Results to date from laboratory experiments demonstrate the potential of these measurements to classify the material type of CASS for two homogeneous microstructures—equiaxed-grain material or columnar-grain material. Measurements on mixed or banded microstructures also show correlation with the estimated volume-fraction of columnar grains in the material. However, several operational issues will need to be addressed prior to applying this method for in-situ characterization of CASS microstructure.

CASS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Role of aggregates and microstructure of mixed-ionic–electronic-conductors on charge transport in electrochemical transistors

Synthetic efforts have delivered a library of organic mixed ionic–electronic conductors (OMIECs) with high performance in electrochemical transistors. The most promising materials are redox-active conjugated polymers with hydrophilic side chains that reach high transconductances in aqueous electrolytes due to volumetric electrochemical charging. Current approaches to improve transconductance and device stability focus mostly on materials chemistry including backbone and side chain design. However, other parameters such as the initial microstructure and microstructural rearrangements during electrochemical charging are equally important and are influenced by backbone and side chain chemistry. In this study, we employ a polymer system to investigate the fundamental electrochemical charging mechanisms of OMIECs. We couple in situ electronic charge transport measurements and spectroelectrochemistry with ex situ X-ray scattering electrochemical charging experiments and find that polymer chains planarize during electrochemical charging. Our work shows that the most effective conductivity modulation is related to electrochemical accessibility of well-ordered, interconnected aggregates that host high mobility electronic charge carriers. Electrochemical stress cycling induces microstructural changes, but we find that these aggregates can largely maintain order, providing insights on the structural stability and reversibility of electrochemical charging in these systems. Finally, this work shows the importance of material design for creating OMIECs that undergo structural rearrangements to accommodate ions and electronic charge carriers during which percolating networks are formed for efficient electronic charge transport.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Effect of stored strain energy heterogeneity on microstructure evolution of 90% cold rolled AISI 304L stainless steel during interrupted annealing treatment

Highlights: • Study of usefulness of stored strain energy distribution map of the material for variable temperature range. • Advantage of using stored strain energy distribution map • Variation observed in stored energy between isothermal annealing treatment and interrupted annealing treatment. - Abstract: This research work is an attempt to understand the effect of stored strain energy heterogeneity over macro-scale, induced during interrupted annealing treatment, on the micro structural evolution in a heavily cold rolled AISI 304L austenitic stainless steel. The cold rolled AISI 304L stainless steel (SS) samples were subjected to different annealing treatments. The microstructures obtained after each annealing treatment were characterized using optical and electron microscopy techniques. Further, an attempt was made to estimate the stored strain energy by a novel approach of micro hardness measurement both over small scale (area 3600 μm{sup 2}) and large scale (area ~0.25 mm{sup 2}). The stored strain energy was determined using hardness values. Using these data, spatial stored strain energy distribution contour maps were created. They were, in turn, used to characterize the local softening behavior both at micro and macro-scale levels after each interrupted annealing treatment. The results showed that, interrupted annealing treatment induces increased stored strain energy heterogeneity after each annealing interruptions. Also, it was possible to determine recrystallization kinetics of the material using stored strain energy map, which helps in designing annealing cycles for achieving ultrafine grained microstructure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

2014 Accomplishments-Tritium aging studies on stainless steel: Fracture toughness properties of forged stainless steels-Effect of hydrogen, forging strain rate, and forging temperature

Forged stainless steels are used as the materials of construction for tritium reservoirs. During service, tritium diffuses into the reservoir walls and radioactively decays to helium-3. Tritium and decay helium cause a higher propensity for cracking which could lead to a tritium leak or delayed failure of a tritium reservoir. The factors that affect the tendency for crack formation and propagation include: Environment; steel type and microstructure; and, vessel configuration (geometry, pressure, residual stress). Fracture toughness properties are needed for evaluating the long-term effects of tritium on their structural properties. Until now, these effects have been characterized by measuring the effects of tritium on the tensile and fracture toughness properties of specimens fabricated from experimental forgings in the form of forward-extruded cylinders. A key result of those studies is that the long-term cracking resistance of stainless steels in tritium service depends greatly on the interaction between decay helium and the steels’ forged microstructure. New experimental research programs are underway and are designed to measure tritium and decay helium effects on the cracking properties of stainless steels using actual tritium reservoir forgings instead of the experimental forgings of past programs. The properties measured should be more representative of actual reservoir properties because the microstructure of the specimens tested will be more like that of the tritium reservoirs. The programs are designed to measure the effects of key forging variables on tritium compatibility and include three stainless steels, multiple yield strengths, and four different forging processes. The effects on fracture toughness of hydrogen and crack orientation were measured for type 316L forgings. In addition, hydrogen effects on toughness were measured for Type 304L block forgings having two different yield strengths. Finally, fracture toughness properties of type 304L stainless steel were measured for four different forging strain rates which and two forging temperatures. Tritium exposures have been and are being conducted on companion specimens for property measurements in the upcoming years.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗