A constitutive equation of creep, swelling and damage under neutron irradiation applicable to multiaxial and variable states of stress

A constitutive equation of creep, swelling and damage under neutron irradiation applicable to multiaxial non-steady states of stress is developed. In the formulation of the constitutive equation, the creep under irradiation was divided into irradiation-affected thermal creep and irradiation-induced creep. Then the irradiation-affected thermal creep was formulated by extending the creep-hardening surface model to include the effects of neutron-irradiation and material damage. The Bailey-Norton creep law and Kachanov-Rabotnov creep-damage theory were employed. The effect of irradiation on thermal creep was described by expressing the material functions of the constitutive equation as functions of neutron flux φ and neutron fluence Φ. The constitutive equation of irradiation-induced creep was formulated by taking account of SIPA and CCG mechanisms and by representing the creep rate as a function of stress of order zero and one. Creep of 316 stainless steel under various conditions of irradiation and variable stress was analyzed in order to elucidate the validity and the utility of the proposed constitutive equation. (author)