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Small scale mechanical testing of irradiated materials

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Abstract

Small specimen testing techniques have a long history in nuclear material research due to the limitations posed by nuclear facilities. The limited space in reactors and the fact that the samples are oftentimes radioactive in addition to the increasing need to obtain mechanical properties from ion beam irradiated samples require small specimen mechanical testing. With the application of modern focused ion beam sample preparation techniques and the enhancement of nanoindentation instruments, the size scale has been moved to even smaller scales and new geometries. Micrometer and even nanometer size samples are feasible, but raise the question of comparability to large scale properties for engineering applications. In this review, we summarize available small scale materials testing techniques and potential shortcomings based on examples from the literature, as well as introduce novel experimental approaches conducted using microcompression testing, microbend bar testing, and nanoindentation at ambient and nonambient conditions.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Funding was provided by the DOE-NEUP Project No. 13-5161 as well as the I-NERI program and the National Academy Keck Futures Initiative (NAKFI). We particularly appreciate D. Bhattacharyya, D. Frazer, S. Parker, A. Lupinacci, A. Reichardt, N. Bailey, Hi Tin Vo, Z. Huang for providing images and data not published previously to help illustrate the techniques available today. The corresponding author also want to thank Marie Anne Hosemann for quiet support as well as Nicole, Karl, and Ana Hosemann for backup support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720, USA

    P. Hosemann

  2. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Myongji University, Yongin, 449-728, Korea

    C. Shin

  3. Department Materials Physics, Montanuniversität Leoben, Leoben, 8700, Austria

    D. Kiener

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  1. P. Hosemann
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  2. C. Shin
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  3. D. Kiener
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Correspondence to P. Hosemann.

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Hosemann, P., Shin, C. & Kiener, D. Small scale mechanical testing of irradiated materials. Journal of Materials Research 30, 1231–1245 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2015.26

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