JOINT: an Indo-UK collaboration in joining technologies

英国和海外新核建设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，包括薄金属部分的激光混合焊接、不同材料系统的扩散连接、不同金属的窄间隙熔化焊接、结构材料的搅拌摩擦焊和厚壁部分的电子束焊接，提供了比传统焊接技术更大的好处；产生了改进的微观结构，降低了残余应力，并提高了可检验性。JOINT旨在通过英国学术专家(开放大学、曼彻斯特大学、布里斯托尔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，识别和优化先进的连接技术。各方在推动联合技术的开发和改进方面都有经过验证的记录，合作将整合联合技术、最先进的表征和联合性能测试方面的优势。因此，JONING将国际知名的合作伙伴聚集在一起，这些合作伙伴处于连接技术的前沿，并在使用与该项目相关的高端国内和国际设施方面有良好的记录，例如ISIS、钻石、ILL等。JONING将通过优化制造参数、微结构和机械性能，开创新的和先进的连接技术，以确保各种与当前和未来反应堆系统相关的金属和非金属材料连接的可靠性能。这样的优化将要求除其他外，狭窄的热影响区，低残余应力、应变和变形，以及最小和可量化的接头缺陷风险。发展将利用先进的建模方法来模拟和预测接头特征，材料检查来了解焊缝和邻近材料的材料性质，试验方法来调查机械性能，如强度和抗疲劳性，以及无损评估方法来发现和表征缺陷。该联合体将重点开展以下八个工作包(WP)下的活动。英国或印度的合作伙伴将在每个国家的优势的基础上领导每个WP：WP0(牵头：UK)：工作规划、协调和管理WP1(牵头：印度)：连接前材料特征WP2(领导：印度)：连接技术WP3(领导：UK)：连接后特征WP4(领导：UK)：连接性能WP5(领导：印度)：联合模拟和建模WP6(领导：UK)：评估和传播WP7(领导：印度)：展望和未来计划本提案涵盖最初的三年研究活动计划，重点是三项加入技术：激光混合焊接、扩散焊接和低真空电子束焊接。虽然WP5不在本提案的范围内，但将通过在联席会议上分享现有研究方案和利用新出现的筹资/协作机会来涵盖这一问题。联合财团提供的独特机会是印度的加入技术专业知识和英国的焊接特征专业知识的互补性。将新的联合技术引入核电站设计所必需的研究只能通过跨学科研究方案来实现。该联合财团汇集了必要的补充专业知识。

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.