The Dounreay fast-reactor uniaxial creep-measuring machine

The measuring, loading, and temperature design principles are explained, followed by an account of the test-and-commission programme carried out on key components and the assembled creep machine during manufacture. This is followed by a description of the instrumentation used to control and record experimental requirements and results. The paper then discusses tests which are carried out to prove the systems under reactor-environment conditions. The paper concludes with a description of the specimen-load/unloading procedure carried out during reactor shutdown, and briefly on the apparatus used to record specimen dimensions before and after tests in the creep machine. (Auth.)