scope:

The recommended practices for elevated temperature design of Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactors (LMFBR) have been published in four individual WRC Bulletins. Volume IV, WRC Bulletin 366, discusses such topics as fracture mechanics, nonlinear collapse stress classification of structural discontinuity stresses, and high temperature design as practiced in Germany. Flaw evaluation (fracture mechanics) procedures are recommended to supplement the design codes which assume perfect, defect-free structures. The fracture mechanics methods have been extended into the plastic and creep regimes. Publication of this Bulletin - WRC Bulletin No. 366 was sponsored by the Committee on Elevated Temperature Design of the Pressure Vessel Research Council. The purpose of this report is to document elevated temperature design knowledge and experience accumulated over the past two decades by engineers in France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom (U.K.), and the United States (U.S.). The recommendations, guidance and proposed use of structural design methods presented here are based upon the development programs pursued by these five countries. Although there are some differences in research priorities, overall similarities among national development programs confirm a common perspective of elevated temperature structural design problems. The commonalities in problem identification and resolutions have created an international consensus on LMFBR structural design technology development needs and future technology directions.