Argonne National Laboratory

Nuclear Science and Engineering

Mechanical and Environmental Testing Laboratory (METLab)

METLab
The METLab is a suite of testing capabilities used for evaluating mechanical performance of structural materials under various loading, temperature, and environmental conditions.

The Mechanical and Environmental Testing Laboratory (METLab) operated by Argonne’s Nuclear Science and Engineering Division is a suite of testing capabilities used for evaluating mechanical performance of structural materials under various loading, temperature, and environmental conditions. The METLab consists of a number of autoclave systems, servo-hydraulic and screw-driven mechanical testing frames specially designed for evaluating environmentally assisted cracking, tensile behavior, creep, fatigue, creep-fatigue, and fracture toughness of structural materials in simulated reactor environments. A well-established testing procedure is followed to ensure ANL quality assurance equivalent to NQA-1.

Autoclave Mechanical Test Systems

  • Eight autoclave systems for performing corrosion fatigue and stress corrosion cracking tests up to 350°C in simulated LWR water environments.
  • Each system consists of a test frame, a load cell, an autoclave, a hydraulic actuator, and a water recirculation loop.
  • The water – representative of an LWR coolant environment – is circulated through the autoclave at pre-set flow rates.
  • A labview-based data acquisition system for online monitoring of testing conditions and crack extension.

Tensile Test Systems

  • Two Instron Model 5980 Materials Testing Systems with the Instron Bluehill 3 testing software package for performing high-temperature tensile tests per ASTM-E21.
  • Equipped with 3-zone air furnaces for testing up to 1100°C.
  • Load cells of 5 kN, 10 kN, and 50 kN are available.

Fatigue/Creep-Fatigue Test Systems

  • Two Instron/MTS closed-loop servohydraulic testing systems with the Instron WaveMatrixTM software package for performing low-cycle fatigue, creep-fatigue, crack growth rate, and fracture toughness tests per ASTM standards.
  • Equipped with 3-zone air furnaces for testing up to 1100°C.
  • High-temperature extensometers to control/measure total axial strain.

Creep Test Systems

  • Fourteen ATS 2320-MM series and one ATS 2330-CCM series lever-arm load frames with the ATS WinCCS software for performing creep tests per ASTM standard.
  • Systems are calibrated for the load range of 1,000 lb. (4.45 kN) to 10,000 lb. (44.5 kN).
  • All are equipped with 3-zone air furnaces for testing up to 1100°C.

Environmental Creep Test Systems

  • Four ATS 2140 direct-load testers and two ATS 2330-CCM lever-arm testers equipped with retort assemblies and the WinSCC control software for performing creep tests in controlled gas environments per ASMT standard.
  • Systems are calibrated with the load range of 400 lb. (1.7 kN) for the direct-load testers, and 1,000 lb. (4.45 kN) to 10,000 lb. (44.5 kN) for the lever-arm testers.
  • Equipped with 3-zone air furnaces for testing up to 1100°C.