KfK, Institute for Reactor Development. Results of research and development activities in 1990

R and D activities at IRE (Institut fuer Reaktorentwicklung-Institute for Reactor Development) are dedicated to power engineering and handling processes in the framework of the point-of-main-effort projects 'nuclear fusion', 'solid-state and materials research', 'handling', 'nuclear safety' and 'miscellaneous research'. Nuclear fusion contributions deal with special vacuum system design problems, heavy-duty design and materials selection and safety aspects. Specimens from 30 different carbon-based materials were subjected to comparative tests in a plasma spraying plant. In the framework of solid-state and materials research activities a viscoplastic model for mechanical component analysis was investigated for its compatibility with elementary physical laws under complex loads. The handling project was dedicated to the specific requirements of nuclear fusion with regard to JET and NET uses, the development of system solutions for flexible industrial techniques, and to standardization. A study on the control system of a work station for NET remote handling tasks was completed. In the framework of the nuclear safety project one currently investigates the dynamics of fast reactors under failure conditions, the possible propagation of local cooling failures in the reactor core, and core monitoring problems. (orig./GL)