Spherical nanoindentation of structural nuclear materials

The development of advanced nuclear reactors relies on the availability of structural materials that can endure extreme temperatures, pressures, and irradiation doses within the reactor core. However, the rate of material development is often hindered by the high costs and extensive time required for full-scale mechanical testing of neutron-irradiated materials as part of a reactor irradiation campaigns. In this context, ion irradiation presents a cost-effective method for accumulating irradiation damage at significantly higher dose rates. However, ion irradiation results in a surface damage damage, ranging from micrometers to tens of micrometers in thickness. Therefore, establishing reliable methods to extract bulk mechanical properties from small volumes of irradiated materials is essential.

This project will employ spherical nanoindentation to assess the properties of ion and neutron irradiated structural materials. Advanced analysis protocols will be developed, integrating both analytical and finite element methods, to bridge the gap between indentation stress-strain curves and the bulk mechanical properties degradation from irradiation damage. By enhancing the capability to characterise materials rapidly and accurately, this research aims to significantly improve the rate of material development for structural nuclear applications, ultimately facilitating the advancement of next-generation nuclear reactors.