Influence of a temperature change on in-reactor creep

The results of a series of pressurized tube creep experiments, conducted in Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II), were evaluated to determine the effect of a temperature change on the in-reactor creep of AISI Type 316 stainless steel. In contrast to prior breeder reactor experiments where a temperature change was imposed and only a short interval of additional fluence accumulated prior to examination, this experiment examines the long-term effects of a temperature change. Data are reported from three separate experiments in which the temperature history was altered by a linear reduction with fluence, a step increase and a step decrease. Analysis of the data indicated that the long-term creep rate adjusts to the new temperature. However, evidence of swelling and stress-affected swelling resulting from the temperature change were found