SMPA, Structural Materials Performance Assessment Laboratories (EMMA)

The mechanical test laboratory SMPA is part of the EMMA laboratories.

The EMMA laboratories provides the infrastructure for mechanical tests in ambient and corrosive environments from cryogenic to high temperatures at the macro and micro scales.

SMPA is located at the Joint Research Centre in Petten (the Netherlands), includes the following test machines:

Universal Tensile test Machines for tensile, fatigue, fracture, and creep fatigue, SSRT, Creep-fatigue Crack Growth

• Full-size servo-hydraulic test machines (30-100kN)
  • 100kN, oven heating 700°C
  • 30kN, induction heating 900°C
• Miniature & Small-size servo-hydraulic test machines (3 kN)
  • Adapted for small punch test
  • 3 kN, environmental chamber -150 to 600˚C
• Electro-mechanical machines
  • 300kN, environmental chamber -150 to 600°C
  • 50kN, induction heating 900°C

Charpy Hammer

• 300J and 50J, both instrumented
• -150 to 300°C

Creep test machines

• 12 uniaxial creep test rigs 20kN, oven heated 900°C
• 2 small punch creep test machines induction heating up to 900°C

Post-test equipment available: 3D profilometry, x-ray tomography, SEM (EDX, WDX), Optical microscope, XRD, TEM, Vicker's micro hardness (0.1kg – 20kg)

Priority topics of SMPA

1. Safety and reliability of nuclear components
2. Support to the development and adaptation of European Codes and Standards
3. Development of test procedures and instrumentation with available test equipment to achieve simpler, more reliable or non-standard tailored data and estimates for of material properties
4. Prediction of design life of new materials and remaining life of service-exposed materials including welded joints. The data will be in support of model development and validation
5. Characterization of tensile and creep and creep-fatigue properties of new and service-exposed materials using standard and miniaturized specimen tests

Definition and conditions of access

The two creep machines can be continuously operated depending on tests programme. Typically 1000h – 8000h.

Two Small punch creep can be continuously operated depending on tests programme. Typically 24h – 700h.

Miniature testing machine 3kN, operated during working hours. Test durations typically minutes to hours.

The user is expected to be experienced in the tests types to be performed and after short training independently prepare and conduct tests.

• Estimated total number of Access Unit allocated to the call:
  • Two creep machines 20 kN each (2x24x365h): 90 AU
  • Two Small punch creep with use in hours: 90 AU
  • One miniature testing machine 3kN: 30 AU
• Average number of Access Unit per Project:
  • Creep Machines and SPT creep machined: 45 AU
  • miniature testing machine: 15 AU

Two creep machines 20 kN with use in hours. Access Unit = 100h
Two Small punch creep with use in hours. Access Unit = 100h
One miniature testing machine 3kN. Access Unit = 1 day

Options for the allocation of intellectual property rights:

• The JRC and the entitled party (person or organisation that has been granted access) become co-owners in equal shares of all raw data, treated data and documentation data developed with respect to the access.

or, when the users run the Research Infrastructure

• Raw data, treated data and documentation data will be solely owned by the entitled party. The JRC receives a non-exclusive, royalty free, unlimited and world-wide license to use (meaning in particular to access, exploit, adapt, merge, translate, copy and store) the raw data, processed data and documentation data in all fields of exploitation. Where relevant, the license will include all the data / information necessary to replicate the tests.

Eligibility criteria

• The Lead User Institution and User Institutions ( see definitions in the Framework) must be from an EU Member State, or country associated to the Euratom Research Programme (Switzerland and Ukraine).
• The Lead User Institution must be from a university, research or public institution, or from a Small-Medium-Enterprise (SME).
• Ethical considerations in accordance with EU Law, in particular Art. 19 of Regulation (EU) 1291/2013, and applicable laws and regulations in the EU Member States.
• The proposal submission form is complete and complies with the instructions.

Selection criteria

Any proposal will be scrutinised in accordance with weighted selection criteria such as:

• Scientific implementation
• Access to SMEs and new Users
• Strategic relevance to the JRC
• Strategic importance for Europe

How to apply

The proposal must be prepared by using the template given in Annex 3.1 of the Framework.

During preparation of the proposal, applicants are encouraged to:

• Read the "Framework of Access to Joint Research Centre physical Research Infrastructures" and its annexes.
• Contact the research infrastructure at JRC-OPEN-SMPAec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-OPEN-SMPA[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) to assess feasibility aspects related to the capacity of the research infrastructure.

The proposal should be submitted to JRC-RI-OPEN-ACCESSec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-RI-OPEN-ACCESS[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) by the closing date of the call.

Additional instructions: contact JRC-OPEN-SMPAec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-OPEN-SMPA[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu) before or during the preparation of proposal on:

• Material,
• Test parameters,
• Specimen geometry
• Specimens prepared by the user.

Also specify the level of experience of the user(s) to perform related tests.

Communication of the assessment of proposals:2020-04-01 00:00:00

Related Content

Selection Criteria Background Documents

The 6 Priorities of the European Commission

JRC Thematic Focus Areas