One of the basic mechanisms of radiation embrittlement of steels and welds is due to matrix damage. Embrittlement results in a raise in the ductile-to-brittle transition temperature, which is normally used as indicator of the degradation status of the material. Other methods different than mechanical tests can be used to follow embrittlement like small punch test, non-destructive measurements o...

The knowledge of the thermal shock resistance of refractory materials is of outmost importance since it determines their performance in many applications, from ceramic manufacturing to oil refinery, thermal insulation, nuclear power, chemical and petrochemical industries. Thermal shock resistance is measured in terms of the number of cycles that a refractory material can withstand when subjecte...

The progressive development of civil engineering has forced scientists to improve the known methods and techniques testing building materials, also search for new ones, e.g., non-destructive (NDT) [...]