Centre of excellence for nuclear materials

 

 

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RESEDA mechanical testing platform

 
The RESEDA facility is located at CEA Saclay and is managed by the Systems and Structures Modeling Department (DM2S). This facility develops engineering methods, softwares (CAST3M, EUROPLEXUS), rules, and standards (RCC-MRx). The experimental platforms are used to perform mechanical tests on large specimens, such as metallic and reinforced concrete structures. RESEDA has two main activities. The first activity is static testing of samples that range in size from lab specimens to component mock-ups. These tests analyse the collapse of nuclear components or model structures. The second activity involves studies of structural dynamics and fluid-structure interactions (fast dynamics, vibration with or without flow, and fretting). The main equipment includes:
 
  • some 25 mechanical testing machines for tensile, compressive, bending, fatigue, and creep tests with loading capacities up to ± 5000 KN and temperature configurations up to 1500°C;
  • pressurized water loops to perform specific mechanical/hydraulic tests up to 320°C and 15 MPa;
  • special testing machines designed for dedicated loadings and/or complex scenarios (fracture, thermal shock, impact, and vibratory wear).
     
 
 

 4-point bending test achieved on a pressurised water reactor (PWR) secondary circuit representative tube

 

DELTA electromechanical press (20 tons,
up to 550°C): fatigue/bending and creep tests

  SERVOTEST machine (50 tons): 4-point

bending test for fatigue and tear studies

(up to 300°C and 20 MPa)

  ORION drop weight tower (up to 0,8 tons – 8 m) for controlled and highly instrumented impact tests on structures

 

 
#118 - Last update : 12/17 2013

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