Analysis method of Charpy V-notch impact data before and after electron beam welding reconstitution

The specimen reconstitution technique is one of the most promising techniques to improve the surveillance program of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV). In this study, unirradiated 30Mn2V low-alloy steels were chosen as the test materials, and the broken halves of Charpy V-notch impact (CVN) specimens were reconstituted to be new CVN specimens by the electron beam welding (EBW) as a pilot study in China. Taking the 20 insert reconstituted specimens as an example, Boltzmann function was used to fit the CVN data, the ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) and its uncertainty were evaluated, and the equality of DBTT between the reconstituted specimens and original specimens was checked by t/t′-test. There is a great consistency between CVN data of EBW reconstituted specimens and that of original specimens.

Research highlights▶ The EBW can be successful applied for reconstitution of the CVN specimens. ▶ The equality of DBTT was checked by t/t′-test with its uncertainty. ▶ The CVN data before and after reconstitution is in good agreement.