Cavitation in 316H steel under constant strain creep conditions

In collaboration with EDF The Open University has an ongoing programme of studying creep cavitation in 316H steel of important relevance to lifetime studies of reactor heat exchangers. In this proposal three samples of 316H steel having undergone constant creep strain at different rates will be investigated using SANS2D to obtain a cavity size distribution. The sample strains have been measured using Digital Image Correlation at The Open University, anf further measurements of cavitation will be made using optical and scanning electron microscopy. In order to help understand the results from these plant steels a study of creep cavitation in the model system of pure copper is also being undertaken