Abstract
High-temperature mechanical behaviors of Type 316L stainless steel (SS), which is considered as one of the major structural materials of Generation-IV nuclear reactors, were investigated through the tension and creep tests at elevated temperatures. The tension tests were performed under the strain rate of 6.67×10-4 (1/s) from room temperature to 650℃, and the creep tests were conducted under different applied stresses at 550℃, 600℃, 650℃, and 700℃. The tensile behavior was investigated, and the modeling equations for tensile strengths and elongation were proposed as a function of temperature. The creep behavior was analyzed in terms of various creep equations: Norton's power law, modified Monkman-Grant relation, damage tolerance factor(λ), and Z-parameter, and the creep constants were proposed. In addition, the tested tensile and creep strengths were compared with those of RCC-MRx. Results showed that creep exponent value decreased from n=13.55 to n=7.58 with increasing temperature, λ = 6.3, and Z-parameter obeyed well a power-law form of Z=5.79E52(σ/E)9.12. RCC-MRx showed lower creep strength and marginally different in creep strain rate, compared to the tested results. Same creep deformation was operative for dislocation movement regardless of the temperatures.