Modeling of Irradiation Hardening in Reactor Pressure Vessel Steel Based on a Rate Theory

It is a common issue that neutron irradiation to reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels causes a decrease in fracture toughness and an increase in yield strength while in service. A number of models have been proposed to account for the embrittlement of RPV steels. It is generally accepted that the growth of point defect cluster (PDC) and copper-rich precipitate (CRP) affects radiation hardening of RPV steels. The theoretical model developed by Stoller mathematically described the evolution of radiation-induced microstructures of ferritic steels under neutron irradiation. In this work, we modified the rate theory model for PDC and CRP, and estimated the magnitude of hardening induced by irradiation defects