JOINT: an Indo-UK collaboration in joining technologies

英国和海外新核建筑的复兴为开发制造和连接核部件的新方法创造了机会。连接技术的发展，包括薄金属截面的激光混合焊接，异种材料系统的扩散连接，异种金属的窄间隙熔焊，结构应用材料的摩擦搅拌焊接，以及厚截面的电子束焊接，与传统焊接技术相比具有显着的优势;创建改进的微观结构，降低残余应力并提高可检查性。这些联合收割机相结合，创造出缺陷更少的接头，并在核反应堆的挑战性环境中表现出上级性能。联合旨在通过英国学术专家（开放大学、曼彻斯特大学、布里斯托大学和帝国理工学院）与印度原子研究机构（BARC和IGCAR）之间的战略合作，确定和优化先进的连接技术。各方在推动连接技术的发展和改进方面都有良好的记录，此次合作将整合连接技术、最先进的表征和联合性能测试方面的优势。因此，JOINT汇集了国际知名的合作伙伴，他们处于连接技术的最前沿，并拥有与项目相关的高端国家和国际设施的良好记录，例如ISIS，DIAMOND，ILL等。JOINT将通过优化制造参数，微观结构和机械性能的可靠性能的各种金属和非金属材料的接头相关的现在和未来的反应堆系统。这种优化将需要窄的热影响区、低的残余应力、应变和变形以及最小的和可量化的接头缺陷风险。开发将利用先进的建模方法来模拟和预测接头特性，材料检查以了解焊缝和相邻材料的材料性质，实验方法以研究机械性能，如强度和抗疲劳性，和非破坏性评估方法来发现和排除缺陷A 5-10年的研究合作计划涵盖了广泛的先进连接技术。联合体将重点关注以下八个工作包（WP）下的活动。英国或印度的合作伙伴将领导每个WP建立在每个国家的优势：WP 0（牵头：联合王国）：工作规划、协调和管理（牵头：印度）：预接合材料表征WP 2（牵头：印度）：加入技术（牵头：英国）：联合后表征WP 4（牵头：联合王国）：联合执行WP5（牵头：印度）：联合模拟和建模WP 6（牵头：联合王国）：评估和传播（牵头：印度）：前景和未来方案激光混合焊接、扩散焊接和低真空电子束焊接。虽然第五工作方案福尔斯不属于本提案的范围，但将通过在联合会议上分享现有的研究方案和利用新出现的供资/合作机会来加以涵盖。联合财团提供的独特机会是印度的连接技术专长和英国的焊接特性专长的互补性。将新的连接技术引入核电厂设计所需的研究只能通过跨学科研究计划来实现。该联合体汇集了必要的补充专门知识。

The renaissance in new nuclear build in the UK and overseas has created the opportunity to develop new approaches for the manufacture and joining of nuclear components. Developments in joining technologies, including laser hybrid welding for thin metallic sections, diffusion bonding for dissimilar material systems, narrow gap fusion welding for dissimilar metals, friction-stir welding of materials for structural applications, and electron beam welding for thick sections, offer significant benefits over traditional welding techniques; creating improved microstructures, lower residual stresses and benefits in inspectability. These combine to create joints that contain fewer defects and exhibit superior performance in the challenging environment of a nuclear reactor.JOINT aims to identify and optimise advanced joining technologies through a strategic collaboration between UK academic expertise (at the Open University, Manchester University, Bristol University and Imperial College) and Indian atomic research institutes (BARC and IGCAR). All parties have a proven track record in driving developments and improvements in joining technologies and the collaboration will integrate strengths in joining technologies, state-of-the-art characterisation and joint performance testing. JOINT thus brings together partners of international reputation who are at the forefront of joining technologies and have a proven track record of access to high-end national and international facilities relevant to the project, e.g. ISIS, DIAMOND, ILL etc. JOINT will pioneer new and advanced joining technologies by optimising fabrication parameters, microstructures and mechanical properties for the reliable performance of a variety of metallic and non-metallic material joints of relevance to present and future reactor systems. Such optimisation will require among other things narrow heat affected zones, low residual stress, strain and distortion with minimum and quantifiable risk of joint defects. Developments will draw on advanced modelling approaches to simulate and predict joint characteristics, materials examinations to understand the nature of the materials of the welds and adjacent materials, experimental methods to investigate the mechanical performance, such as strength and fatigue resistance, and Non Destructive Evaluation methods to find and characterise defectsA 5 - 10 year programme of research collaboration is envisaged covering a wide range of advanced joining technologies. THe JOINT consortium will focus activities grouped under the following eight Work Packages (WP). A UK or Indian partner will lead each WP building on the strengths of each country: WP0 (lead: UK): Work planning, coordination and managementWP1 (lead: India): Pre-joint materials characterisationWP2 (lead: India): Joining technologiesWP3 (lead: UK): Post-joint characterisationWP4 (lead: UK): Joint performanceWP5 (lead: India): Joint simulation and modellingWP6 (lead: UK): Assessment and dissemination WP7 (lead: India): Foresight and future programmesThe present proposal covers the initial 3-year programme of research activities that will focus on three joining technologies: laser-hybrid welding, diffusion bonding and low vacuum electron beam welding. Although WP5 falls outside the scope of the present proposal it will be covered by sharing existing research programmes at JOINT meetings and exploiting emerging funding/collaboration opportunities. The unique opportunities provided by the JOINT consortium are the complementary nature of India's joining technology expertise and the UK's weld characterisation expertise. The research which is necessary to bring new joining technologies into nuclear plant design can only be achieved by a programme of interdisciplinary research. The JOINT consortium brings together the necessary complementary expertise.