ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal

In-situ study of OFHC copper under low-cycle fatigue with different heat treatments at elevated temperature for fusion application

Abstract: As the UK advances in fusion energy development, particularly with the European DEMOnstration Fusion Power Plant (DEMO), ensuring the structural integrity of materials in reactor components are becoming increasingly important. Oxygen-Free High Conductivity (OFHC) copper, used as an interlayer between tungsten and copper-based alloys, is a key candidate material for heat sinks in the divertor structural components. These materials are exposed to cyclic loading due to the repetitive nature of tokamak operations, making fatigue a significant concern for long-term reliability. The overarching aim of this research is to support the validation of structural integrity codes, such as the Structural Design Criteria for In-vessel Components (SDC-IC) which is derived from the RCC-MRx design code, and essential for ensuring the safe operation of fusion reactors. To achieve this, we aim to perform in-situ low-cycle fatigue tests on OFHC copper. The behaviour of the material under cyclic fatigue conditions will be evaluated at 400°C, representative of DEMO's operating temperature. Using the neutron diffraction technique, we will measure orthogonal strain components during the fatigue tests. These measurements will be used to validate crystal plasticity models by analyzing the evolution of lattice strain, under low-cycle fatigue conditions. This research will enhance the robustness of structural integrity codes in fusion energy applications.

Principal Investigator: Ms Wan Nur Maisarah Wan Mohammad
Experimenter: Mr Jialin Wang
Experimenter: Mr Yuxuan Zhang
Experimenter: Mr Yihe Xue
Experimenter: Mr Barkin Sofuoglu
Experimenter: Dr Nicolo Grilli
Experimenter: Dr Mehdi Mokhtarishirazabad
Local Contact: Dr Joe Kelleher
Experimenter: Dr Mahmoud Mostafavi
Experimenter: Mr Simon McKendrey

DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2520416

ISIS Experiment Number: RB2520416

Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source

Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation

The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher], [doi]

For Example:
Ms Wan Nur Maisarah Wan Mohammad et al; (2026): In-situ study of OFHC copper under low-cycle fatigue with different heat treatments at elevated temperature for fusion application, STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2520416

Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.