ASTM E1253-99

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Designation:E1253–99
Standard Guide for
Reconstitution of Irradiated Charpy-Sized Specimens
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1253; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope mens. It may be desirable to extend the original surveillance
program beyond available specimens for plant lifetime exten-
1.1 This guide covers procedures for the reconstitution of
sion, to better define existing data, or to determine fracture
Test Methods E 23, Type A Charpy specimens and specimens
toughness of a material when no standard fracture toughness
suitable for testing in three point bending in accordance with
test specimens are available. The ability to reconstitute the
Test Method E 1921. Materials from irradiation programs
brokenhalvesofexistingspecimenscanprovidesuchmaterial.
(principally broken specimens) are reconstituted by welding
3.2 Charpy-sized specimens are typically machined from
endtabsofsimilarmaterialontoremachinedspecimensections
virgin material, that is, material not previously mechanically
that were unaffected by the initial test. Guidelines are given for
tested. There are occasions that exist when either (1) no full
theselectionofsuitablespecimenhalvesandendtabmaterials,
size specimen blanks are available or (2) the material available
for dimensional control, and for avoidance of overheating the
with the desired history (such as having been subjected to
notch area.
irradiation) is not sufficient for the machining of full-size
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
specimens, or both.
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
3.3 An approach to this problem, that is addressed in this
only.
guide, is to fabricate new specimens using the broken halves of
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
previously irradiated and tested specimens. In this guide, the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
central segment of each new specimen utilizes a broken half of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
a previously tested specimen and end tabs that are welded to
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
the central segment, or the central section may simply be a
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
piece of virgin material shorter than a Charpy-sized specimen.
2. Referenced Documents
While specifically addressing reconstitution of irradiated pres-
sure vessel steel, this guide can also provide guidance for
2.1 ASTM Standards:
reconstitution of Charpy-sized specimens for other situations
E 23 Test Methods for Notched Bar Impact Testing of
involving material availability.
Metallic Materials
E 185 Practice for Conducting Surveillance Tests for Light-
4. Reconstitution Technique
WaterCooledNuclearPowerReactorVessels,E 706(1F)
4.1 Welding Process:
E 220 Test Method for Calibration of Thermocouples by
4 4.1.1 Anyweldingprocessmaybechosen,providedthatthe
Comparison Techniques
heat input and dimensional constraints, as given in this guide,
E 1921 Test Method for the Determination of Reference
can be achieved. Work to date has indicated successful results
Temperature, T , for Ferritic Steels in the Transition
o
with stud welding (1), electron beam welding (2, 3), and
Range
projection welding (4).
3. Significance and Use
4.2 Specimen Preparation:
4.2.1 The specimen insert used for reconstitution and its
3.1 Practice E 185 defines the minimum requirements for
orientation shall be identified such that it can be traced to the
light-waterreactorsurveillanceprogramCharpyV-notchspeci-
original specimen.
4.2.2 Each end face of the specimen insert and the selected
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-10 on Nuclear
extension tabs shall be prepared as required by the particular
Technology and Applications and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
welding method selected.
E10.02 on Behavior and Use of Nuclear Structural Materials.
Current edition approved June 10, 1999. Published August 1999.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
3 5
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 12.02. The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.03. this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E1253
4.2.3 If comparable data between the original and reconsti- successful design will maintain dimensional control, minimize
tutedtestsarerequired,thentheorientationofthereconstituted heat input to the central test section, and satisfy design
specimen and the original specimen must be identical. constraints associated with remote handling.
4.2.4 Theyieldstrengthandthematerialtypeoftheendtabs
4.4 Heat Input:
shall be similar to the specimen insert. The use of oversized
4.4.1 To preclude irradiation damage annealing, heat input
tabs and subsequent machining is permitted.
during welding shall be controlled such that no part of the
4.2.5 It is important to ensure that the plastic deformation
volume of the central 10-mm (0.40-in.) portion of the recon-
beneath the notch, produced when the reconstituted specimen
stituted Charpy-sized specimen exceeds the prior metal irra-
is tested, will occur entirely within previously undeformed
diation temperature at any time during welding (see Fig. 1).
material in the central test section. The following guidelines
This requirement can be relaxed if it can be shown that the
are provided to meet this objective:
plastic deformation zone in subsequent testing will not extend
4.2.5.1 Sufficient material shall be removed from either side
past the zone where irradiation temperature is exceeded.
of the notch root of the original tested specimen to ensure that
4.4.2 To demonstrate that the temperature requirement of
the specimen insert is free of prior plastic deformation.
4.4.1 is met for a given selection of welding parameters,
4.2.5.2 The minimum length of the specimen insert shall be
temperature records shall be made daily, using thermocouples,
18.0 mm (0.56 in.).
during welding a set of Charpy-sized specimens. If surface
4.2.5.3 This dimensional requirement is based on Charpy
thermocouples are used, then a surface-to-center temperature
impact specimens tested on the upper shelf (where the plastic
correction must be made. This correction shall be determined
zone is maximum) and the stud welding reconstitution tech-
experimentally.
nique (where heat input and HAZ sizes are maximum).
4.4.3 Thermocouples used in maximum temperature deter-
Reconstituted specimens tested in the lower transition range or
mination shall be calibrated in accordance with Test Method
on the lower shelf in accordance with Test Methods E 23 and
E 220.
reconstituted pre
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