Applications of the Master Curve Approach to Irradiated Steels

The Master Curve approach is being introduced in the evaluation of the fracture toughness of low-alloy ferritic steels used in reactor pressure vessels. The Master Curve provides significant technical enhancements compared with the methodology currently incorporated in the ASME code. The fundamental understanding of Master Curve has been achieved, but application issues are emerging facing the integrity evaluation of reactor pressure vessels. The current situation of the Master Curve methodology is reviewed in this paper, including the last developments for WWER reactors. The open issues are discussed, and the preliminary results from investigations being carried out in Spain are presented.