Flamanville EPR RPV’s Heads Carbon Segregation: Tests Program Definition to Characterize the Mechanical Properties of the Carbon Segregation

To characterize the mechanical properties of the residual carbon segregation of the Flamanville EPR RPV heads, a testing program have been organized by Framatome and performed in 3 laboratories (Wood, Framatome technical center of Erlangen and SCK Mol). This paper presents the tests program, how it has been defined and its goals. The main issue was the impact of the carbon content on the toughness properties. A procedure was defined to characterize specifically the toughness distribution in the upper part of the brittle-to-ductile transition. The ductile regime was also investigated. These tests were completed with tensile, Charpy and drop weight tests, representing a final total of approximatively 1700 mechanical tests.