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Modeling defect cluster evolution in irradiated structural materials: Focus on comparing to high-resolution experimental characterization studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2015

Brian D. Wirth ,
Xunxiang Hu ,
Aaron Kohnert  and
Donghua Xu
Brian D. Wirth*
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-2300, USA; and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
Xunxiang Hu
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-2300, USA; and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
Aaron Kohnert
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-2300, USA
Donghua Xu
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-2300, USA
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: bdwirth@utk.edu
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Abstract

It is well established that exposure of metallic structural materials to irradiation environments results in significant microstructural evolution, property changes, and performance degradation, which limits the extended operation of current generation light water reactors and restricts the design of advanced fission and fusion reactors. Further, it is well recognized that these irradiation effects are a classic example of inherently multiscale phenomena and that the mix of radiation-induced features formed and the corresponding property degradation depend on a wide range of material and irradiation variables. This inherently multiscale evolution emphasizes the importance of closely integrating models with high-resolution experimental characterization of the evolving radiation-damaged microstructure. This article provides a review of recent models of the defect microstructure evolution in irradiated body-centered cubic materials, which provide good agreement with experimental measurements, and presents some outstanding challenges, which will require coordinated high-resolution characterization and modeling to resolve.

Keywords

defectsnuclear materialsradiation effects
Type
Invited Review
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 30 , Issue 9: Focus Issue: Characterization and Modeling of Radiation Damage on Materials: State of the Art, Challenges, and Protocols , 14 May 2015 , pp. 1440 - 1455
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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Footnotes

Contributing Editor: William J. Weber

References

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