Finite element analysis on the first wall electron beam welding of test blanket module

Abstract Test blanket module (TBM) uses the welding technology in its development process due to a component of the fusion test reactor. Electron beam welding (EBW) is selected as the welding of the TBM’s structure. As a part of the TBM, in the EBW process of the first wall (FW), there are a variety of welding processes for its selection. Here, geometry, thermal cycles, and the deformation characteristics of the FW under the two welding processes are simulated and analyzed by the finite element model. The results show that the equivalent stress of the second welding process is greater than that of the first welding process. For welding deformation, the first welding process is larger than the second welding process in the X and Z directions, but its position is different. In the Y direction, the welding deformation of the two welding processes is similar.