Effect of clear bands on intergranular stresses and IASCC early damage - 04002

Slip localization is a common feature in post-irradiated metallic poly-crystals undergoing tensile straining. This effect takes place for instance in the form of thin slip bands called channels or clear bands, formed after the local vanishing of irradiation defects induced interactions with gliding dislocations. Channel impingement towards grain boundaries (GBs) should induce local stress concentrations along GBs, in the quasi-elastic surrounding matrix. It has been shown extensively that this trigger GB crack initiation. Grain boundary fracture is simulated using a double criterion based on both critical normal stress and fracture energy as deduced from atomistic computations of GB fracture. The critical stress is deduced from the fracture energy using the universal-binding-energy relationship (UBER). In the case of brittle fracture, the fracture energy is defined as the two fresh free surface energy values minus the GB energy. In relationship with the more complex topic of irradiation induced stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) occurring in-service conditions, the influence of irradiation dose, strain rate and irradiation creep is discussed. Due to the complex loading history highlighted by structural finite element analysis, strain peaks may induce the formation of clear bands or twin bands. The study of the effect of irradiation creep on the relaxation of the induced GB stress fields shows clearly that the relaxation requires many months due to the linear irradiation creep law. Such durations allows GB oxidation mechanisms to occur leading to a weakening of the GB fracture parameters in the vicinity of the free surfaces. This short paper is followed by the slides of the presentation