Measurement of irradiation effects in a RPV steel by ball indentation technique and magnetic Barkhausen noise

Effects of neutron dose on the mechanical and magnetic properties of a SA508-3 nuclear pressure vessel steel were investigated by using ball indentation test technique and magnetic Barkhausen noise (BN) measurements. The samples were irradiated in a research reactor up to 1018 n/cm2 (E>1 MeV) at 70 °C. The yield strength and flow curve were evaluated from the indentation load-depth curves. The change of mechanical properties showed characteristic trend with respect to neutron dose, namely near plateau, rapid increase and slow increase. On the other hand, the BN varied in a reverse manner, a slow decrease up to a neutron dose of 1016 n/cm2, followed by a rapid decrease up to a dose of 1018 n/cm2.